Weekly Sports Roundup: Sept. 12-19

Just two weeks into the fall term, and things certainly look rosy for Red Raiders football, as Melrose has recorded two wins over Middlesex League Large teams. Although, under the new ML system—with an brand new automatic playoff spot for the ML Small champs—the Large-Small crossover games no longer count towards a team’s league record, they do provide an excellent barometer to gauge the likelihood of Melrose challenging for the Small School Division title. If the first two games of the year are any indicator, the Red Raiders should be in the mix.

Melrose started the season with a road game at Belmont and . Last week the Winchester Sachems were the next victims, as the Red Raiders at Knowlton Stadium in Winchester.

Soccer

Boys

The Melrose (2-1) boys soccer team split a pair of matches last week, falling to Lexington on Sept. 13, 2-0, but bouncing right back to grab a vital road win against the Burlington Red Devils on Sept. 15, by a 3-1 margin. Sophomore Frantzdy Pierrot bagged a brace for the Red Raiders, while Michel Pierre-Giles picked up a goal as well. Netminder Zeke Vainer turned in a solid performance between the sticks for Melrose, recording several key saves.

Girls

The Lady Raiders squared off against Lexington on Sept. 13 in a crossover match, but were unable to register their second win of the season, falling 3-1. Melrose is now 1-1 on the young season.

Volleyball

The vaunted Melrose girls volleyball program kicked off a new season on Sept. 13 with a convincing win against an enthusiastic and improving Cambridge Rindge & Latin squad, 3-0, at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School. The set scores were 25-8, 25-8, 25-10, and Jill Slabacheski posted five kills, while Sarah McGowan grabbed four. Kayla Wyland, Brooke Bell, Rachel Johnson and Maeve Moriarty also played well.

The following day, the Lady Raiders put the Middlesex League on official notice that the days of Melrose being a volleyball powerhouse are far from finished with a 3-0 stomping of perennial league contenders Lexington, by scores of 25-9, 25-10 and 25-15. McGowan notched 10 kills, and sophomore Jill MacInnes reeled off thirteen consecutive points during the second set, as Melrose dominated against a traditionally good team. Slabacheski, Bell, Jen Cain, Moriarty, Wyland and Johnson also chipped in as the Lady Raiders improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in league play. Sept. 16 saw Melrose play its fifth game of the year, representing one fourth of the schedule, and after yet another 3-0 win, this time against Burlington by set scores of 25-11, 25-15 and 25-23, the Lady Raiders are a perfect 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the Middlesex League. Slabacheski and Johnson led the way against the Devils.

Field Hockey

The Lady Raiders (0-2-1) came out of last week still looking for win number one, as they played to a . Goalkeeper Stacey Platcow recorded nine saves to preserve the draw. On Sept. 15, Lexington felled the Lady Raiders by a score of 7-1, keeping Melrose out of the win column for the week.

Swimming

Girls

Melrose faced the toughest of tests on Sept. 12, in the form of defending state champions Andover High, and the Lady Raiders lost, 81-79, in a meet that wasn’t as close as the final score would suggest. That being said, Melrose did receive some outstanding individual performances, and gave a good account of themselves in general.

Cross-Country

Boys

The Melrose boys cross-country team dropped its season opener on Sept. 15, falling to Reading, 19-44. The Red Raiders run again on Sept. 20 against Middlesex League newcomers Arlington.

Girls

The Lady Raiders cross-country squad got the fall term off on the right foot on Sept. 15 with a narrow 29-30 win over Middlesex League Large School opponents Reading. Melrose returns to action on Sept. 20 against the Arlington Spy Ponders.

Golf

Melrose has hit the links twice so far this year, and the Red Raiders boast a perfect 2-0 mark. The season opened on Sept. 14, and Melrose pulled down a 45-27 victory over Stoneham, and the following day, won their second straight with a 38-34 win against Watertown. Melrose returns to action on Sept. 19 against Arlington.