Nyzaiah Pacheco and Ben Novo scored as the Westport soccer team edged Fairhaven 2-1 in a league home game on Friday afternoon. The undefeated Wildcats are currently 9-0 overall and 4-0 in the MAC. 

After a scoreless 59 minutes of play, Fairhaven struck first and scored a goal on a penalty kick to take a 1-0 lead at the 60 minute mark. 

Pacheco, a junior midfielder, tied the game 1-1 five minutes later. 

“Nyzaiah scored on a well executed shot on the ground, just within the farside post,” said Wildcats’ head coach Chris Parker. “We out shot them 18-3. But we struggled to finish.”

Novo scored the game winner by beating Fairhaven goalkeeper Noah Woodbury on a penalty kick at the 67 minute-mark to give Westport a 2-1 lead. The Wildcats held The Blue Devils scoreless the rest of the way.

“Ben is an amazing player,” said Westport goalkeeper Noah Amaral. “He is technical, plays the ball well and can shoot well too.” 

Westport also soundly defeated Wareham 4-0 in a dominating performance at home on Thursday. Will Quinlan and Pacheco each scored 2 goals. Novo added an assist. The Wildcats have outscored their opponents 45-2 at the halfway mark in the schedule. 

Quinlan has exceeded expectations at striker, the lone forward position in the Wildcats’ formation. He has scored 17 goals and has become a legit scoring threat with his feet as well as his head. 

“Will playing so well is nice to have, given the formation that we play,” said Coach Parker. “He’s very athletic, very fast and is really good in the air, which gives us an added weapon.” 

Pacheco has also been an offensive scoring threat for the Wildcats. The left midfielder has scored 10 goals this season. 

“Nazey has stepped in and played really well,” Coach Parker said of the junior transfer student. “He’s a very skilled young man. He plays unselfish and has really integrated into our system. He is becoming more of a weapon because of that.”

Stifling defense

Senior center backs Marcos Dutra Africano and Ryan Borges have played outstanding as they stifled attacks and limited shots in front of Amaral this season. The goalkeeper, who’s shut out streak ended at seven games after the goal by Fairhaven, spoke glowingly about the two defenders. 

“As much as I would like to take all of the credit, I have to say that I have two excellent center backs in front of me,” he said. “Marcos is one of the most technically composed defenders I have seen and Ryan is a beast on the ball. He’s very good at using his body. We also have good outside backs and good bench players coming in. There is really no drop off.”

“To have a back four that are so good with their feet, who can not only win a ball, but distribute and start the counter attack is a real gift,” said Coach Parker.

And speaking of beasts, Amaral is there to make the save when the Wildcats need it.

“When I need to make a save, I try my best to do it,” he said. 

“Noah has worked so hard on all of the little aspects of his game that it has made him elite,” said Coach Parker. “He’s like an 11th field player. We have confidence playing the ball through him. He makes good decisions, he is good with his feet and he makes strong throws.”

Strong through the middle

“I knew that even if we couldn’t score goals this season, we were going to be tough to beat,” Coach Parker said. “We are very strong through the middle, starting with Noah as goalkeeper, Marcus and Ryan as center backs and Ben and Tommy Bernard as central midfielders. They have lived up to my heightened expectations this season.”

Strong midfield play has also been imperative for Coach Parker’s system. And he has been getting it even from his sophomore starters Landon Novo at holding midfielder and Carter Couto at right midfielder.

“I knew that I would have at least a fantastic starting nine,” he said. “But I have a fantastic starting eleven with those two kids. And with Travis Carvalho coming off the bench. It’s a luxury. He would start anywhere else.”

Ben Cross a junior and sophomores Garrett Skov and Lucas Freitas are strong upcoming defenders for the Wildcats. The trio have been logging minutes on the backline and holding their own. Skov played the entire second half during the Wareham game on Thursday.

“Garrett still needs to work on his feet, but he’s big and physical. He works tirelessly and he’s getting better,” said Coach Parker. 

Wildcats hit the road

Westport travels to Avon on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and to Diman on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Girls 

Girls ride 7 game winning streak

The girls soccer team is riding a seven game winning streak after losing their first two games of the season. The 7-2 Wildcats crushed Atlantis Charter 6-1 on Tuesday, shut out Wareham 5-0 on Thursday and beat Bristol Plymouth 4-1 on Friday. 

During that stretch Korynne Holden scored 6 goals, Lily Veracka scored 5, Ella Camara and Julia George each scored 2.