St. John Paul II Girls Soccer Team Makes History

In a thrilling match in Barnstable, the St. John Paul II girls soccer team has reached the Elite Eight for the first time in the program’s history. The No. 6 Lions scored a hard-fought victory over the No. 11 Monson, winning 1-0 in the Div. 5 Round of 16 of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament.

The decisive moment of the game came just two minutes in when Emma Collette took a shot from the right side that was accidentally deflected into the net by a defender, marking the historic goal for St. John Paul II. Strong defensive efforts were key to the win, particularly from Meah Dalrymple, who successfully neutralized Monson’s top scorer, Hannah Murphy. The Lions’ backline, featuring Kiera O’Malley, Devin Crofford, Ariel Thompson, and Maddy Boyle, played a crucial role in shutting down Monson’s offensive opportunities.

In other local high school sports action, the Div. 3 Round of 8 saw the No. 6 **Dennis-Yarmouth** Dolphins defeat the No. 3 Newburyport with a score of 1-0. Brooke Chicoine scored the game’s only goal in the third quarter, leading her team to the Final Four. The defense, anchored by Jenna Richard and her teammates, was instrumental in securing the win.

Over in volleyball, the No. 1 **Bourne** team easily swept No. 9 Wareham 3-0 in their Round of 8 match, propelling them into the Final Four. Notable performances included Nola Timo with nine kills and Sofia Halunen who contributed significantly with multiple assists.

In the boys’ sports arena, Upper Cape managed an exciting comeback to defeat South Shore Tech 40-32 in an overtime non-qualifier game, thanks to impressive plays from Joshua Pediscio.

The local cross country teams also saw action, with the Dennis-Yarmouth girls finishing third in the Division 3A race and qualifying for the Meet of Champions next Saturday.

Silas Gartner from Falmouth shone bright in the Division 2B races, securing a first place finish and advancing to the state championships as well.

As the postseason heats up, fans can expect more exciting games and historic moments from these talented local athletes.