NHS soccer girls seek playoff berth
BY LINDAWILLIAMS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The girls' varsity team played last Wednesday at Sturgis, trouncing them, 6-1. Grace MacLellan scored the first goal to break the ice, Justine Paradis notched a hat trick and Shantel Hanniford scored two more times.

MICHAEL GALVIN/The Independent Ashley Martin moves in against Coyle-Cassidy during Saturday's game.

Team member Aileen Fredericks was happy with the results. "We were kind of glad that it was an easier game to ease ourselves into for the first one back and that was pretty good. It was weird at first and we all got back into it as we played."

The team was away again last Thursday against perennially tough Lighthouse League opponent Cape Cod Academy. Fredericks felt that this game caused more stress for the team. "It was harder for the girls as this was expected to be a difficult game," she said. The team lost, 3-0, but was in the game until the end. "The more we play the more comfortable we get, especially with Grace playing in Kate's position for this game."

With one day's rest, the girls took the home field against Coyle-Cassidy, a team that buried Nantucket, 9-1, last month. Fredericks felt that the match against CCA prepared the girls for C-C.

"This game was easier than the one against Cape Cod Academy. It is taking more time for some people to adjust, but the fact that we are all getting back into the game is great. Playing soccer has helped us all."

Though the team took the draw with C-C, 3-3, it was a win for the girls after a stressful ten days. Boys' coach Rich Brannigan, a spectator at the game, thought the tie was inspiring. "It was a great moral victory for the team and it showed the great strength of character of the girls."

Brianna Vittorini scored the first and second goals, with Grace MacLellan assisting on the second when she sent a perfectly placed corner kick into the poaching Vittorini. Justine Paradis knotted the game off a free kick. The team currently has a 4-7-1 record with six games left to try to eke out a playoff berth.

The girls played the Vineyard under the lights at home on Tuesday with the results not available by press time. The team beat the Vineyard on the Vineyard earlier in the season, 2- 0, and were hoping to beat them again on friendly turf. There was a soccer recognition day for seniors at the girls' game against the Vineyard at halftime honoring graduating players for both varsity teams and their parents. This is the first time Nantucket has done this at a soccer game. Previously, this recognition for senior soccer players has been done during halftimes of football games, long after the soccer season has ended. Branningan was pleased. "It has been long overdue to honor soccer on its own during our game, and what better way to do it then under the lights on the football field before a

large, supportive crowd." I