September on the Vineyard is upon us, the season of shoulder pads and shin guards. From freshly cut fairways to the rugged trails of the state forest, the Island’s student athletes are days from the main stage.
September on the Vineyard is upon us, the season of shoulder pads and shin guards. From freshly cut fairways to the rugged trails of the state forest, the Island’s student athletes are days from the main stage.
After some scrimmages, the real action begins Thursday with girls and boys soccer and the golf team starting their season with league matchups. The girls soccer teams takes on Monomoy at home at 3 p.m., and the boys team also plays Monomoy in an away game on the Cape. The golf team will face off against Sturgis West at Farm Neck starting at 3 p.m.
Last year, a very young girls soccer team capped a double-digit win season with a playoff appearance. They were also the only Vineyard team to retain their Golden Anchor trophy from Nantucket, sweeping the Whalers on the year. The girls excelled on offense and displayed a cohesiveness that continues to make them a strong squad this year. With leadership from seniors Reese Malowski, Esme Colon, Eleanor Mone and Ella Ehrman, and the dynamic sophomore duo of MacKenna Metell and Iyla Story, the girls are certainly going to be a fun team to watch.
The boys soccer team is coming off a season where they showed they could hang with some of the best teams in the league with wins over Nauset and Falmouth but lost a few too many close contests and missed the playoffs for the first time in four years. One of those losses was against Nantucket in a match that came down to penalty kicks and ended with the Whalers sailing home with the Golden Anchor trophy.
This year, the boys look to right the ship and make it back to the playoffs under the guidance of new head coach and MVRHS alum Rodrigo Silva Honorato. Joining his staff is Esteban Aranzabe, who also has experience coaching the Vineyarders.
The team opens its season on Thursday against Monomoy.
The team opens its season on Thursday against Monomoy.
Their season starts with four straight road matches, two of which are against top teams in the Cape and Islands league. The boys will be put to the test before their home opener on Sept. 13 against Lowell Collegiate Charter. Then, the very next day, it’s rivalry time as the Whalers come to the Vineyard for a Sunday showdown.
The golf team is coming off a down year, but one that still sent two Vineyarders to postseason play. Jacoby Light qualified for the division two south sectionals last fall and is looking to build on his success in his junior year. With a large returning group after just two seniors graduated, this team should improve on their record from last year.
Field hockey begins their season Friday on the road against Nauset. Now in year two of coach Kaitlyn Benoit’s tenure, the girls should continue to improve while they form an identity as a team. Field hockey is very competitive in the Cape and Islands league: Sandwich, Monomoy and Dennis-Yarmouth all perennially compete for state titles. However, as the Vineyard program grows, the girls will look to stay competitive. Their home opener is on Sept. 14 against Nantucket.
The cross country teams begin their season Saturday with the 18th annual Vineyard XC Invitational. Runners from 28 different schools throughout the Commonwealth will make their way to the Island to traverse the state forest.
Last year, the boys team had three runners finish in the top 50, and the girls team had two in the top 50. Sophia Alves, now a senior, should be in line for a top finish again, and Enzo Reis, a junior, will also look to crack the top 50. Greyson Hartzband, Gianni Navarrete, Maddie Coulter, Noah Burns and Robert Riis are all promising young runners for the Vineyard as well.
The football team, amidst a shakeup in league alignment, faces a very tough schedule this year. No longer in the Lighthouse division due to Monomoy and Saint John Paul II forming one co-op team, the Vineyarders now face the likes of Sandwich, Nauset, Falmouth and Dennis-Yarmouth. However, with an experienced quarterback in William Nicholson and an offensive line in front of him composed of four starters from last year’s squad, the Vineyarders should be able to hold their own.
Defensively, purple and white should also be solid with Harrison Lazarus, Xander Laiacona and Raphael Aviles commanding the trenches. Behind them at linebacker is the trio of Syius Rivera, Christopher Cardoza and Simon Arbelaez. Stopping the run is always key to winning games at the high school level.
The football team begins the season on the road against Mashpee on Friday, Sept. 12. Last year, the Falcons got the best of the Vineyard by more than three scores. If the Vineyarders win the turnover battle, it should be a different story this time around. The home opener will be the following week, Saturday, Sept. 20, against Sharon at 1:30 p.m.
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