Westport Girls soccer primed and ready for the season

Shut out Diman 5-0 in first league game

Photos and story by Richard W Dionne Jr
Posted 9/11/18

The Westport girls soccer team showed why they are primed and ready for the fall season as they shutout rival Diman, 5-0, in their first league game at the high school on Friday afternoon. …

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Westport Girls soccer primed and ready for the season

Shut out Diman 5-0 in first league game

Posted

The Westport girls soccer team showed why they are primed and ready for the fall season as they shutout rival Diman, 5-0, in their first league game at the high school on Friday afternoon.

“Diman is a very talented, very physical, very intense team. To play them the way that we did at our home field was just outstanding,” said Westport girls soccer Head Coach Gary Muello.

New players Freshman striker Jesse Scov and sophomore goalkeeper Sofia Reed came up big for the Cats. Scov scored a hat trick and Reed kept the ball out of the back of the net.

“Jesse is an outstanding player. She’s driven. She wants the ball. She makes phenomenal decisions. she has a great first touch. She’s an exciting player,” said coach Muello.

“She scored her first goal a minute into the game on a through pass by senior attacking midfielder Sam Arsenault.

“Jesse got a beautiful through ball from Sam, and she put it in the bottom corner of the net. It was a good way to start off the game,” said senior forward Marinela Dutra Africano.

Scov also scored the fourth and fifth goals of the game in the second half.

At the 41 minute mark, Scov stood in front of the net watching midfielder Ashley Fay loft a direct kick towards the net.

“Ashley was about 18 yards out near the far sideline. she was trying to score, but it didn’t get there. So I dove in with my fat head and I scored,” Scov said.

At the 50 minute mark, Dutra Africano stole the ball turned and dribbled upfield. As Diman defenders attacked, she saw Scov make a beeline for the net. Africano with a beautiful touch pass, she slid Scov the ball. Scov held off a defender took a step and blasted the ball into the net.

“She hit it with such pace, it went right by the keeper,” Dutra Africano said.

“Jesse plays with so much energy. She creates opportunities for our players to score,” said coach Muello.

Laura Martel scored the Cat’s second goal 10 minutes into the first half, assisted by Ashley Fay. Dutra Africano scored the third goal off a direct kick at the 27 minute mark.

Sophomore goalkeeper Sofia Reed, with the help of the Cats team defense, made several big saves to shut out Diman. Reed replaced two-time MVP Ashley Thatcher who graduated last Spring.

“Those are big shoes to fill,” said coach Muello, “Sophia getting a clean-slate today against a quality team like Diman is a huge confidence builder. We hope that can carry her through for the rest of the season. It’s a good start. A really good start.”

Practice makes perfect

The Cats have worked hard for their early success. Captains Marinela Dutra Africano, Ashley Fay, Acadia Cass and Samantha Arsenault held practices throughout the summer to get the team into better shape for the beginning of the season.

“Being in shape before the season helps the team get ready for our competition,” Dutra Africano said. “Our goal this year is to make it through to the second round of the state tournament.”

The team just made it into the playoffs last year, only to get skunked by Hull in the first round.

“We hope to get a better season record than last year so we get a better match up in the tournament,” said Acadia Cass. “I’m super optimistic. We have a lot of talent on this team. Our chemistry is amazing. We have come together so well.”

“It’s so fun and exciting to watch this group. I’m extremely proud of my four captains. They were able to bring the team together as a unit. I’m impressed with the effort of our team,” said coach Muello.

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.