The Westport soccer team tied Old Rochester Regional 2-2 in a non-league home game on Thursday afternoon. CJ LeBlanc and Noah Vieira each scored a goal for the Wildcats, who clobbered Holbrook 5-0 in a league home game on Tuesday. Westport physically dominated the Bulldogs as five different players scored second-half goals. Vieira, Tiago Rodrigues, Miguel Ferreira, Preston Carvalho and Tiago Branco all scored for Westport, who held the Bulldogs to just one shot on goal the entire game.

 

“That was our best game of the season in terms of a full 80 minutes,” said Westport head coach Chris Parker of their win over Holbrook. “We’ve had spurts of good play, but it hasn’t been consistent enough.” 

 

Westport, who started the season on the road, fell to Durfee 3-1 in their first game, then tied Bishop Stang 2-2 before handing beatings to Avon 10-0, Wareham 5-0 and Holbrook 5-0. 

Though the Wildcats lost their most prolific scorer when senior striker Austin Raposo went down with a knee injury during practice. Raposo scored 25 goals for Westport last season and helped to lead them to the Round of 16 in the state tournament. 

 

“He was a beast in summer league,” Coach Parker said of Raposo before he went down. “I penciled him in for 30 goals this season. It’s going to be a big challenge for us without him.”

 

Westport, however, is still solid at striker with senior Tiago Rodrigues, a tall, skilled player, who scored 16 goals for the Wildcats last season and currently has six goals in six games. Coach Parker also moved senior CJ LeBlanc from center back to striker when Raposo went down. LeBlanc, also a skilled player, is using his defensive toughness to his advantage as an attacker. 

 

“Tiago is our most talented scorer,” Coach Parker said. “The ball explodes off his foot so bloody quickly. In the blink of an eye he is spinning, shooting and boom, he scores a goal. And CJ can play anywhere. He’s a different kind of forward-more of a playmaker.” 

 

“It was very tough losing Austin on the field,” said LeBlanc, a senior captain. “But it’s a lot harder off the field, because he really kept us together. Coach made us aware that everyone needs to step up and help out with the scoring.” 

 

Still the Wildcats have a crew of skilled players and the team is again strong through the middle of the field, a trademark of a Chris Parker coached team. They are looking to be a force in the division and make a solid run in the state tournament.

 

“This is a special group and we've been playing well,” said LeBlanc. “We played two tough teams to start the season, But we've been on a really good run and we're looking to continue it.”

 

Coach Parker has seen the growth in the players from game to game. They are continuing to be more patient as they gain momentum, building towards the state tournament.

 

“The team is starting to realize that if they keep up the pressure and put shots on frame, the goals will come,” he said. “We talk about being relentless in the pursuit of every 50/50 ball until you win it. It’s all part of that ‘Pitch Warrior’ mentality. They have taken that to heart.” 

 

He believes that this is his best passing team in his ten years coaching the Wildcats. 

 

“It’s not just the accuracy of their passing,” he said. “They have bought in to the concept of moving into space. They move well off the ball after making a pass, so we are getting very good at creating angles and allowing us to make short passes and advance down the field very quickly.” 

 

Skilled midfielders lead passing attack

Once upon the goal mouth, the Wildcats are making skilled inside passes and crosses and finishing their kicks and headers on goal. Junior midfielders RJ Ferreira and Preston Carvalho have been key in the Wildcats attack. Ferreira is small, but highly skilled passer and Carvalho is the Wildcats passing midfielder, a position traditionally held by the most athletic player on the team. In 2023, Ben Novo helped the team win the school’s first ever D-5 championship and his brother, Landen Novo, also played the position and helped the Wildcats to the final four. 

 

“Preston has a high motor and this season he is technically more advanced. He’s really coming into his own,” said Coach Parker. 

 

Strong defensively and at goalkeeper too

Westport is strong defensively as well with junior Johnny Gadboury playing goalkeeper and senior Blake Stewart and junior Jackson Chase at center back. Stewart has been a stalwart at the position and Chase, a goalkeeper turned center back is a strong compliment. Seniors Noah Jedrey and Alex Ribeiro round out the back four as the Wildcats two outside defensive backs. 

 

“Johnny is more technical at keeper and Jackson has played really well, defensively,” said Coach Parker. “Blake, Noah and Alex all started last year and have taken their game to a new level this season. Our back four are spearheading our attack. We are super deep this season.”  

 

Girls soccer and field hockey teams remain red hot

The Westport girls soccer and field hockey teams remain red hot. The soccer team has won three-straight after annihilating Avon 10-0, Wareham 10-0 and beating Holbrook 2-0. Wildcats sophomore striker Lily Veracka scored 14 goals in that span. She currently has 17 goals for the season. 

Eighth grader Kenleigh LeBlanc scored three goals, Julia Raposo scored two and Brooke Crocker, Maddison Wenson and Alivia Wenson each scored a goal. Goalkeeper Morgan Pacheco made four saves during the Holbrook victory. 

Field hockey team remains undefeated

The field hockey team is undefeated with a record of 6-0. The Wildcats crushed Bishop Stang 5-1, beat ORR 1-0 and shutout Southeastern Vo-Tech 6-0 in their last three games. Senior forward Isabella Baab is currently leading the team in scoring with eight goals. Senior Maddie Melnyk has second five goals and Makayla grace scored four goals. Junior goalkeeper Brianna Soares and the Wildcats defense have been stingy this season. Soares has five shutouts and has let in just a single goal in six games thus far.