caption, page 5:

Ana Garcia, right, heads for the goal. Putnam Science Academy photo.



Soccer teams
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Putnam Science Academy may be best known for its basketball programs, but the soccer teams have quickly established themselves as legitimate powers as well.
The boys’ prep team handily won a battle between Top 10 teams when it defeated Berkshire Academy 4-1 on the road Oct. 26. Jesus Barea scored a pair of goals, and Geni Kanyane and Felipe Santos had one apiece for the Mustangs, who improved to 7-1.
“Based on the chances we had, and the chances they didn’t have,” said PSA coach Sam DeMello, “this is a game that could have been 6-nil if we played the full 90 minutes at our level. Certainly happy with the end result though.”
The Mustangs played Hoosac Oct. 30 and square off with South Kent, another top 10 program, Nov. 3.
The boys’ varsity team had a win and a tie in its games, finishing 2-2 with Hoosac on Oct. 23, and then coming back with a 13-0 win over Williams on Oct. 25.
Christian Mateo and David Menzies scored in the Hoosac game; Menzies had two more against Williams. Paulo Carvalho had a hat trick in that game, and Luca Almeida and Abenego Commue scored two apiece. Javier Gil, Jekai Eve, Romulo Pinheiro, and Aaron Estravit had one goal each. Francisco Navarro had four assists.
“We played very well,” said coach Ivan Damulira. “I just wish we could translate this performance against the teams that our competition level.”
Finally, the girls’ team continues its incredible run in its first season, posting two more wins over another overmatched opponent. This time it was 9-0 over MacDuffie on Oct. 23, then 11-0 over Williams two days later. The Mustangs (7-0) have outscored their opponents 66-3.
Against MacDuffie, the defending NEPSAC Class C bracket, Claudia Paz had four goals (all from outside the 18) and Karol Souza had three more. Giovanna Moreno and Ana Garcia added one each.
Coach Jen Bennett spoke glowingly of her team’s play. On Ana Aldaz, who had three assists, she said, “she was unselfish and found the open player. She sends beautiful balls into the 18, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Bennett called Souza “an amazing player. She’s so versatile, she can play anywhere on the field and play it amazingly.”
Bennett also credited back Thandeka Siboda with holding down the defense. PSA keeper Steph Davis only had to touch the ball three times, and “that happens only if our defense is doing their job, and they did. Thandeka has been doing a great job back there, pushing the defense up, holding the line, and catching other teams offside.”
Aldaz, Garcia, and Souza scored twice each against Williams, while Paz, Siboda, Moreno, Tais Mota, and Ana Velasco had one goal each.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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