Varsity soccer teams have tough week

Keeper Alex Perkins is airborne. On a rain-soaked field, Nantucket varsity boys soccer hosted Easthampton this Saturday and had trouble with a ball that got mired in puddles and refused to roll more than a few feet on the wet grass. The Whalers lost for the second time this season 2-1.

Easthampton took the 1-0 lead just before the break, having controlled possession of the ball, although the game was played primarily between the 30s. Nantucket drew 12 minutes into the second half, when Chris Sylvia was taken down in the box earning Nantucket a penalty kick. Nantucket's penalty kick specialist, Emerson Guzman, sent a low shot just skimming the grass into the right side of the net.

The teams stayed knotted until the final three minutes of the game. Easthampton had already hit the post a few times, but unfortunately for Nantucket, the third time was the charm. A shot was fired that hit the post just in front of keeper Alex Perkins, who dove for the save. The ball bounced off the post onto the waiting foot of an Easthampton player for the goal. Nantucket had one more chance to score, but time ran out.

PHOTOS BY ROB BENCHLEY Whalers Emerson Guzman (left) and Caio Gomes (right) address the oncoming ball. "The field was not pretty and the rain and field conditions probably had something to do with the loss," said Coach Rich Brannigan. "Advancing the ball was a little challenging and they were in our end most of the time, being the aggressors in terms of team speed. We had to play a lot of defense and they got tired at the end."

Brannigan praised the play of Guzman, Emil Bender and Carlos Portilio and singled out Perkins for outstanding play in net.

"Easthampton had a lot more chances to score and Alex had a much busier day than their goalie with his 12 saves to

their four. The loss is not a letdown,

just a bump in the road," said Brannigan.

The team ended the week with a 6-2-0 record and facing two Lighthouse League opponents this week at home, Provincetown yesterday, results of which were not available at press time, and the toughest League opponent tomorrow, Cape Cod Academy at 3 p.m.

The varsity girls soccer team did not fair as well. The team dropped two games last week, one to Bishop Connolly last Monday 4-1, and then a tight match to Scituate on Wednesday 1-0. The team finished up the week at 4-4-1. They traveled to Provincetown yesterday and will face Cape Cod Academy away on Thursday. The team has a home game on Saturday at 5 p.m. against Coyle Cassidy. Check the school's Web site for up-todate game information. I