GLOBE SOUTH

Spellman hungers for state title run

Senior-laden team is unbeaten, untied after eight games

By Colleen Casey

GLOBE CORRESPONDENT

OCTOBER 09, 2011

PHOTOS BY BARRY CHIN/GLOBE STAFF

Cardinal Spellman is off to an 8-0 start. Clockwise from top left: Ryan Walsh (12) attacks; Nick Keddie (7) battles for the ball; Chris Conrad, Walsh, and Nick DeLuca (5) celebrate a DeLuca goal; and the team shows its unity.

As a senior, Conrad, along with classmates Taylor Witherbee, Ryan Walsh, and Nick Keddie, is shooting for another extended run into November that would culminate in a state championship. Spellman is well on its way, after improving to 8-0 with a 5-1 win over St. Mary’s of Lynn last Wednesday night.

Chris Conrad was not sure what was on the horizon when he transferred to Cardinal Spellman his sophomore year. He had played varsity soccer as a freshman at West Bridgewater Middle-High School, but he wanted a change of schools.

The Cardinals promptly went undefeated in the Catholic Central League and captured the Division 3 South title.

The team is like a brotherhood,’’ said Conrad, a 6-foot-1 striker who has scored a team-leading 16 goals this season. “We’re all brothers on the team. We all play as one.’’

The 17-year-old Conrad played goalie until he was 12, but a year later, sick of playing in the net, he moved up front.

It was a good move.

Conrad plays for the MPS Crusaders and the prestigious Olympic Development Program state team, along with the regional pool team. He uses his explosive speed and ball handling skills to blow by defenders, while his height allows him to win battles in the air.

“He’s very strong and very fast,’’ said Cardinal Spellman coach Michael Gerrish. “He’s strong enough that he doesn’t lose control of the ball.

“He’s got tremendous touch. If he needs a hard touch he’s got it, a soft touch he’s got it too,’’ added the coach. “Goal scorers have to have a lot of poise with the ball. They need to know just to touch it rather than ripple the back of the net strings and he does that really well. He can score in a lot of different ways.’’

In the back, the Cardinals lean on Witherbee, a four-year starter at sweeper from East Bridgewater.

“I knew I just wanted to play when I came to Spellman,’’ he said. “I thought I’d be on JV but I didn’t care, I just wanted to play. I worked hard and it paid off.’’

Although Witherbee is not a goal scorer, his presence on the field is profound. With his skills and speed, he wins battles against opposing forwards.

Taylor could easily play up,’’ said Gerrish. “We’ve had him up before, but it makes a huge difference in the back. He’s that valuable piece in the back of your defense that makes the defense that much better.’’

The Cardinals allowed just two goals in their first eight games, one against Arlington Catholic and another against St. Mary’s.

“Bottom line is you have to keep people off the scoreboard and with Taylor back there we’ve done that,’’ said Gerrish.

Witherbee has enjoyed the entire journey the last four years.

“We work hard but at the same time we’re victorious in the end,’’ he said. “It’s good working and getting to the goal we make at the beginning of the year. We’re like a family. We all play hard for each other.’’

Walsh (seven goals, four assists this season), a senior captain from Weymouth, is also a major contributor.

His latest goal came Wednesday, when he launched into the air and connected on a header off a throw-in from Keddie.

Walsh attributes this year’s success to experience.

“I know how our system works,’’ he said. “That’s why I think we’re so strong this year. We’ve all grown up through it and gotten to know it. Us three captains have all been together since freshman year.’’

Keddie, a senior, brings aggressiveness and relentless energy. He had one goal and four assists against St. Mary’s, setting a fast tempo for the game.

“Nick plays hard everyday with such passion,’’ said Gerrish of the center midfielder. “He has endless energy and can run forever. He control’s a lot of flow of play. He’s relentless, you can’t shake him.’’

A two-year captain, Keddie said his sophomore season was his favorite.

“We made it to the state semifinals that year and went undefeated until then,’’ said the 5-8 Keddie. “I just love playing soccer. I love how quick and energizing everything is.’’

Gerrish said that Keddie plays a major role even when he’s not scoring.

“Nick has tremendous throw-ins for us,’’ said Gerrish. Three of the Cardinals five goals against St. Mary’s came off of his throws.

It’s the last chance for the Spellman seniors to win a state title.

“Playing the game and moving around is the best part of soccer. It’s a game where you play as a team and bond It’s the greatest game on earth,’’ said Walsh. “Soccer is so athletic you have to be moving all the time. You have to be thinking all the time. You don’t stop. It’s almost more mental than physical.’’

He added, “Our goal is to make it far into the tournament but we have to work game by game to do that, not looking far ahead.’’

GLOBE SOUTH

Defense anchors fast start for East Bridgewater

By Colleen Casey

GLOBE CORRESPONDENT

OCTOBER 12, 2011

TOM LANDERS/GLOBE STAFF

East Bridgewater coach Shawn Tarpey went over a play with his offensive players during practice earlier in the season. The Vikings are off to a 5-0 start, topping the South Shore League.

Pat O’Neill came ready to play, determined that his last game against South Shore League rival Cohasset would not end with a loss.

In the third quarter of last week’s matchup, his East Bridgewater Vikings comfortably ahead, 36-0, there was no letup from the senior lineman. The 6-foot, 210-pound senior plowed through the line of scrimmage, wrapped his arms around quarterback Jamie Faber, and took him down on the 37-yard line, for a loss of eight yards, recording his fourth sack of the season.

The Vikings’ durable defensive ship has sailed the team to a 5-0 start and the top of the South Shore League this season.

The Skippers did not score until the fourth quarter.

“We pride ourselves on defense,’’ said O’Neill, who also registered two tackles. “We’ve worked more on defense the past few years and really made it a big priority for the football team.’’

“Cohasset’s gotten us the past years,’’ said O’Neill. “When we beat them we had a weight lifted off our shoulders.’’

Cohasset shut out East Bridgewater, 24-0, last season.

O’Neill prepared for his senior season by attending football camps at Boston College and Stonehill College in addition to Viking Camp in East Bridgewater. “I was able to get back into it quicker after the camps,’’ said O’Neill. “ The entire team as a unit got into it more quickly after camp.’’

He added: “We’re more experienced this year. . . . We had a lot of sophomores play last year that are now juniors.’’

East Bridgewater coach Shawn Tarpey calls O’Neill “a heck of a player.’’

Not the most vocal captain, O’Neill still makes his presence known. “Pat absolutely leads by example,’’ said Tarpey. “Casey DeAndrade and Tim O’Brien get a lot of attention offensively but Pat knows his role. He’s embraced the fact that he’s going to be the guy that goes out there in the trenches and leads those guys in front.’’

O’Neill likes to keep things light by having a friendly competition for sacks with junior end Brett Palaschack. “We’re tied now at four and four. I love getting them.’’

The Vikings also lean on senior Trevor Whitcher, a 6-foot, 175-pound split end/linebacker for defensive leadership.

“My favorite part of the game is when the hole opens up and the running back is coming through and it’s me one-on-one with him,’’ said Whitcher, who made three tackles against Cohasset.

Whitcher showcased his skills when he threw his shoulder into Cohasset running back Kyle Livingstone, smacking him to the ground, denying the Skippers a first down on a fourth and inches run.

“Cohasset came out hitting hard last year. Coach showed us the film from last year,’’ said Whitcher. “We didn’t put up a fight. We got killed. We just wanted to beat them this year.’’

“Trevor has played for three years and he brings a lot of experience,’’ said Tarpey. “He calls the defense. He doesn’t look like your typical linebacker - tall, big - but he’s tough and he runs the ball really well. When he does his job, it makes everyone else’s job better.’’

Like O’Neill, Whitcher attended camps at BC and in East Bridgewater to get ready for the season.

“We had a pass league where we played 7-on-7 with Division 1 teams,’’ he said. “That was great preparation for us for the season, seeing as we’re Division 4.’’

O’Brien, the senior quarterback, lauded the play of the defense.

“It’s tough for teams to break through them,’’ he said. “If everyone does their job on defense, then offense will do their job, and we’ll have similar results on Thursday for the rest of the season.’’

He said the win over Cohasset “was probably one of the best wins I’ve been a part of. Everyone played as a team. Everyone did their job.’’

O’Brien also plays safety, helping out on the defensive side.

“I like being out there,’’ he said. “It drives me nuts when I’m on the sidelines.’’

This season, according to Whitcher, team chemistry is much better.

“This year we’re more like a family,’’ he said. “We had it last year and we lost it,’’ he said. “We had a lot of talent last year but we just couldn’t pull it together. This year we’ve worked as one.’’

Mansfield’s Rapoza doesn’t skip a beat

With its lead rusher, senior captain Greg Donahue, out with a rib injury, Mansfield turned to junior Rob Rapoza. He stepped forward for the Hornets, rushing for 127 yards on 11 carries while scoring three touchdowns in the 49-19 win over Sharon.

“Rob really did a great job,’’ said Mansfield coach Mike Redding after his team improved to 4-1. “He usually doesn’t get that many carries with Donahue in, but he did a nice job this weekend.’’

Mansfield squares off against Attleboro tomorrow.

Dragons offense shows strength

Duxbury continued to roll, stepping up to defeat Catholic Conference leader Xaverian, 31-14. Dragons QB Matt O’Keefewent 16 of 26 for 233 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. Junior Reilly Naton had three catches, including a 72-yard touchdown pass and an interception for the Dragons.

Taylor Ellis will hit her alarm tomorrow morning at 4:15. She gets up and prepares for the day, packing her school books, uniform, and bathing suit in the car, and heads out for Kingfish swim practice at 5 in Kingston.

By 6:30, she’s out of the pool and on her way to class at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, until 2. When school is out, she sets off for the pool at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and a practice session with her Notre Dame teammates from 3 to 5 p.m.

After scarfing down dinner, she heads back to Kingston to catch the last hour of Kingfish practice, her final workout of the day.

Ellis is the defending Division 2 state champion in the 100-yard breaststroke, and finished second in the 500-yard freestyle last year.

Her diligence and dedication has paid off.

“It’s stressful sometimes balancing swimming and school work,’’ said the 16-year-old Hanson resident. “I don’t mind it because I love swimming and I love being around my friends.’’

ROBERT E. KLEIN FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

The Notre Dame Academy swim team does a team cheer in the water before a meet with Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro last week.

She started swimming competitively for USA Swimming at 8 and hasn’t looked back. This year, Ellis is swimming the 200-medley relay, 500-freestyle, 100-breaststroke, and the 400-freestyle relay for the Cougars.

Notre Dame coach Michelle Millard said that Ellis raises the intensity level for the rest of the team. “She pushes herself and sets an example for everyone else,’’ said Millard. “She’s definitely a leader for her lane.’’

Ellis pushed herself last Tuesday, winning every race against Milford High though she had not been in the pool in a week.

“I couldn’t swim because I had stitches,’’ said the 5-foot-10 Ellis. “It was hard because I’m not in the greatest shape after sitting out a week.’’

Her second event was the 500-yard freestyle, a distance that she considers one of her best. She stood on the block, towering over her opponents, and took off strong, diving well in front of them, continuing the race without slowing up.

“During the 500 I really started feeling it,’’ she said. She finished first in 5:28.22, an entire pool’s length in front of the Milford swimmer, quick enough to qualify her for the state meet.

“She swam the 500 event and she was able to keep a strong pace for that,’’ said Millard. “In a sprint she can really turn on the speed as well. Her 100-breast is her best, that’s what she won last year. It’s an interesting combination. She’s a pretty natural in the water. She’s well rounded in all aspects of swimming.’’

Ellis also qualified for states in the 100-breaststroke with a 1:10.75 finish, 11 seconds ahead of teammate Amanda Reilly.

“She clearly wasn’t challenged’’ at the meet, said Millard. “She’s in great swimming shape. A week off didn’t hurt her that much.’’

Hannah Cane, a junior at Marshfield High who also swims for Kingfish, said Ellis is a fun teammate.

“She’s so enthusiastic,’’ said Cane. “She’s always cheering for people and has a such a positive attitude.’’

“She’s powerful and fast. She puts all of her effort into every swim. She’s always tired after practice. She doesn’t feel accomplished unless she’s had a really hard practice.’’

Notre Dame junior Julie Coen, also a teammate with the Kingfish, calls Ellis a leader.

ROBERT E. KLEIN FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

“It’s stressful sometimes balancing swimming and school work,” says Taylor Ellis.

“A lot of people look up to her because of her accomplishments and hard-working attitude,’’ she said.

“Taylor has a strong work ethic that rubs off on everybody,’’ said Millard. “I appreciate it and I know her lanemates appreciate it as well.’’

Ellis said that winning the state meet last year was unforgettable. “It was so exciting. My entire team was happy for me,’’ she said. “The year before I was beaten and it was really my goal to win and I did. I work hard. I give it my all at practices and meets and it eventually paid off.’’

“I was happy for her when she won states,’’ said Kane. “She deserved it, she does two swim teams, which is hard. She definitely deserved the win.’’

Her goal is to win both the 500-freestyle and the 100-breaststroke.

“I’m also hoping to qualify for Olympic trials or nationals,’’ she said.

The 2012 US Olympic Team Trials are scheduled for early summer next year in Omaha.

“I’m definitely going to swim in college, I just don’t know where yet,’’ said Ellis.

She added, “I love swimming because it’s a team sport. There’s such a team effort. You make a lot of friends on the team and you get to know everyone really well and grow with them.’