After a year off, the West Haven football team was certainly excited to get back on the field. That excitement showed in a hurry in the season opener Friday evening.
Looking to get off to a quick start, the Westies did exactly that and cruised to a 52-16 victory over Harding at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven.
The Westies turned to a variety of players and found different ways to score in the first game since teams were allowed to play meaningful games on the field.
West Haven’s first score of the season came on a 10-yard run by senior Amir Nakome and was followed by the extra point from sophomore Raul Sanchez for a 7-0 lead. A safety extended the lead to 9-0, before West Haven’s passing game got going.
Junior Preston Denno found senior Chauncey Evans for a 45-yard scoring strike and a 15-0 lead. Junior Deven Robinson helped increase the lead to 22-0 with a 39-yard touchdown run, before the special teams got in on the fun.
Senior Tamayo Ferreira put West Haven on top 29-0 with a 39-yard punt return for a touchdown. When Nakome scored on his second touchdown run of the night, this one from 61 yards, the Westies were up 36-0.
After Harding got within 36-8 on a 20-yard touchdown run, junior Trevor Tompkins scored on a 30-yard run for a 44-8 lead. West Haven’s final points came when freshman Nick Conlon hooked up with Ferreira for a 28-yard score. Senior Jamaine Galloway took in the two-point conversion for the 52-16 final.
In a shortened season one year ago, the West Haven girls soccer team got off to a quick start, winning five games to open the campaign. Looking to get off to a similar start in 2021, the Westies accomplished the first step.
On the road to play rival Hamden, the Westies used the scoring of junior Julia Tsakonas (3 goals) and the goalkeeping of junior Kassidy Carrano (7 saves) to open the year with a 3-2 victory over the Green Dragons.
“Overall, it is a great way to start the season,” West Haven coach Pete Trenchard said. “We got the win away from home against a strong team. Julia (Tsakonas) was on fire, getting the hat trick. She always finds a way to get the ball into the back of the net. Kassidy (Carrano) had some big saves to preserve the win for us.”
Tsakonas scored twice in the opening half and added the eventual winner in the second half. West Haven had 12 shots in the contest.
Tsakonas got the Westies on the board when she scored off an assist from Emma walker at the 24:21 mark. The junior’s second goal came at the 39:08 mark off an assist from senior Cori Severino.
West Haven scored the eventual winner 13:22 into the second half as Tsakonas netted her third of the game off an assist from Maya Bermudez.
The rest was up to Carrano, who held off Hamden with seven saves.
The West Haven boys soccer team was looking to get off to a good start to the 2021 season. Heading into the contest against arch-rival Notre Dame, the Westies knew the Green Knights had a tough defense, having posted a shutout in their opener.
West Haven countered with a top defensive effort, but it was not enough as the two teams played to a scoreless draw Saturday afternoon at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven.
West Haven matched the defense of Notre Dame in terms of not allowing a goal as goaltender Brian Carew made three saves in the shutout.
West Haven had his opportunities with 13 shots, but could not dent the back of the goal.
Looking to get off to a quick start to the season, the West Haven volleyball team fell just short. In what was a tough battle, the Westies fell on the road in their season opener against Hamden, 20-25. 23-25, 25-19, and 17-25.
“The beginning of the season has felt very rushed, so we are still working the kinks out,” West Haven coach Kate Coldren said. “We played well, but we definitely know what we have to work on. Passing continues to be my biggest concern. We have to get our passing more consistent because we have some really great hitters that need to get the ball.”
After losing two close games to open the match, the Westies rallied back in the third game to post a 6-point victory. West Haven could not sustain that momentum in the fourth game and fell by eight points.
Junior Jenna Johnson led the Westies with nine assists, four kills, and three aces on the offensive side, and seven digs defensively. Junior Dulcemaria Castillo had six digs, while junior Tanasia Fidalgo added five kills, three blocks, and two aces.
“Jenna (Johnson) had a very good game tonight and she’s doing well with her setting,” Coldren said. “Both Asia (Ford) and Tanasia (Fidalgo) did well hitting and blocking. We are a work in progress, and I am looking forward to seeing how far this team goes this season.”
Seniors Mckayla Fowler and Anaelecea Turcio each had four digs in the loss.