Wednesday night was Senior night at Dr. Deering Stadium for the Danvers Varsity Girls Soccer Team.  The Underclassmen made beautiful posters for each of the 9 Falcon seniors complete with photos from home of the girls playing soccer over the years.  The freshmen, sophomores and juniors also decorated the stadium with the help of many parents, placing blue and white streamers and balloons throughout giving the field a well decorated look.  Canvas posters of the seniors were attached to the fence entering the stands for all to see.

 

"Our underclassmen and parents did a fantastic job decorating the stadium and making those posters.  I know that the seniors really look forward to this night every year and I was so thankful for the hard work they younger players put into the night for their senior teammates.  I know that parents of the seniors really appreciated it as well.  It was a very nice evening."

 

Former Field Hockey Coach Jill McGinity announced the seniors and their families and each senior presented their families with flowers.  Photos were taken and the game got underway soon afterward.  Danvers started all 9 of their 12 graders and the upperclassmen didn't take long to take the lead.  Senior Katie Walfield left footed home a nice pass from sophomore Georgia Prouty for what would eventually be the game winner in the 3rd minute of play.  Overall, Danvers did play a little bit sloppy but did keep the ball in the Viking end for most of the half.  With 9 minutes to play in the half, Prouty scored to make it 2-0, this time assisted by Walfield.  It would remain that score at halfitme.

 

Danvers played a much stronger second half and once again scored early.  Senior Cali Abbatessa hit a corner kick to the near post where senior captain, Teagan Price was there to creatively flick the ball on into traffic.  Senior captain, Ellie Anderson then tapped the ball over to an open Walfield who notched her second goal and third point of the game.  The Falcons continued to pressure the visitors in their end of the field and took 18 second half shots in total after taking 15 in the first half.  Senior defender Ryley Crosby made some outstanding runs up the left side of the field from her back position, creating a lot of space.  In the 18th minute, Prouty found senior Courtney Hinchion who placed her left footed shot in the bottom right corner of the net for the 4-0 lead.  Five minutes later, senior captain, Mikayla Shaffaval scored a gorgeous goal, heading in a perfect corner kick serve from senior Cali Abbatessa.  Not long after, Abbatessa played a ball into the box that senior Emma Gibbons charged at, running through the Winthrop keeper and getting what looked to be the 6th goal of the game.  A foul was called however, and the score stayed at 5-0.

 

"Cali made some great serves into the box today both in the run of play and off of corners.  It was awesome to see Emma make that run and almost get that goal.  She is a goalie, but did quite well on the field tonight.  Even though the goal was disallowed, I'm sure she'll remember it for a long time."

 

Later in the half, Maddie Dembowski entered the game at goalkeeper.  Senior Emily Goddard only needed to make 2 saves on the night to get the shutout.  Goddard got a run on the field late in the game at striker and nearly punched one in herself to her teammate's delight.  With 5 minute remaining in the game, junior Reese Holland hit a 25 yard blast into the upper corner of the Winthrop net to cap the scoring for the night.  Courtney Hinchion and Ellie Anderson assisted on the play.  Minutes later the final whistle blew and the Falcons had themselves a 6-0 victory on Senior Night.

 

"Senior Night is always exciting for the girls and their families.  I wasn't sure how we'd play tonight with many girls in different positions throughout.  I wanted to get the seniors a lot of time on the field together and although it wasn't smooth at times, they played hard and got the win.  There were a lot of smiles throughout as well.  This senior class is very special to me as a Coach.  I've known them all since they were very young and have had the pleasure of watching them grow as players over the years.  I'm excited that this season is still young and the hope is that we can make this a successful and memorable season for all of them."

 

Coach Hinchion was very pleased with the overall play of freshmen, Olivia St. Pierre, Addi McCarty and Lily Delafano, sophomores Georgia Prouty and Maddie Dembowski, and juniors Molly Godfried, Reese Holland and Skylar Laws.  Unable to play, players Lila Doucette, Brooke Wynott and Krysta Zamejtis were also there in support of their teammates along with sophomore Team Manager Tabitha Sears. 

 

"Our younger players are extremely talented.  They're going to be a huge part of any success we have as a team this year.  I'm glad they were able to make it a special night for their senior teammates.  Mikayla, Teagan, Cali, Courtney, Katie, Ellie, Emma, Emily and Ryley are amazing young ladies with awesome attitudes and great work ethic and tonight we got to celebrate them."

 

Danvers improves to 3-2-1 on the season and next plays Saturday afternoon at Home in a non-league match vs. Lynnfield.

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