Soccer notebook: A sister act at St. Mary’s (Lynn)

LYNN — It’s not often that you see siblings playing together at the varsity level. Simply having one pair can create plenty of camaraderie within a program.

If you were to pay a visit to a girls soccer practice at St. Mary’s (Lynn) at any point this season, you would notice a unique phenomenon that may have never been seen before.

The Spartans? Their squad boasts four sets of sisters, each playing vital roles for their school’s varsity program as it looks to compete in the Div. 3 landscape.

St. Mary’s coach Jim Foley has been with the Spartans for 25 years now, and has seen just about everything imaginable in his tenure.

That is, until recently.

“No I really haven’t (had something like this),” said Foley. “We’ve had sisters come through the program that have played before, but not in terms of four sets of sisters.”

That’s not all.

“We do have another three sets on JV,” Foley said. “Between (the two squads) we have seven sets of sisters that are in the program, which is pretty amazing.”

To this point, St. Mary’s (3-2) has registered a few impressive victories on the year, and it’s largely due to the impact that the siblings bring. Junior twins Brooke (three goals, five assists) and Bre Moloney have been vocal leaders for the group. Junior Issie Skabeikis has provided a sense of confidence, while her younger sister Sophie (five goals, two assists) has emerged as a scoring threat, already with 50 career goals as a sophomore.

“I think it’s way easier (to play),” said Brooke Moloney. “Because the sisters know how to deal with one another whenever we face diversity. I think it makes us better too, because we work hard, and the sisters push each other to their best all the time. They go at each other at practice, and I think that just makes our team collectively better.”

Key cogs in setting the Spartans up for success across the field include Callie and Georgia Allaire.

Meanwhile, the Spartans have two primary players coming off the bench with sisters Caroline and Grace Hauch always ready to step in when needed.

However, playing in the gauntlet better known as the Catholic Central League will present a fair share of challenges.

“I think we have to approach it by trying our best,” Moloney said. “I think we shouldn’t give up. Our attitudes are a big factor. Also, (it’s important), putting goals in the net. (We emphasize) communicating on defense, as well as up top.”

Last fall, St. Mary’s fell in the Div. 3 Round of 32 to North Reading (a 2-0 loss). With one more year playing as a unit however, Moloney and her close-knit teammates will be looking to chase some hardware this upcoming postseason.

“We plan to make a run by sticking together,” said Moloney. “Playing for one another, being good teammates, and working hard all the time.”

Hingham boys coach savors last run

The wind howls across the bay, whistling as the car rolls on.

Oftentimes, you can hear gulls calling off in the distance.

The ride along Route 228 from Hull to Hingham High School is one that Ken Carlin knows all too well, having driven it the previous 25 years. However, the last handful of trips down the beaten path have been bittersweet.

A trailblazer in the Massachusetts soccer world, Carlin is set to retire from Hingham come season’s end, as he prepares to embark on the next chapter of his life.

“My wife has been the good partner for a lot of years, and I need to make sure that I see my grandkids grow up, and not miss out on that,” said Carlin. “I’m not tired of it. In a lot of ways, I wish that I was going to be coming back next year. But I made a promise that we would start to do other things, which means a lot of traveling.”

Always a stern figure along the sidelines, you can spot Carlin from a mile away. His temperament almost never changes, a keen eye constantly watching the ever-changing sport. It doesn’t matter whether he is coaching in a state final or passing by a youth soccer event on the South Shore. He is always innovating, plotting his next game plan.

Carlin’s career by the bench started in the early 1990s, when he served as a club coach with the Mass Bay Blazers. He was hired by Hingham High School in 1999. His journey also included a 17-year stint as a coach with the Galway Rovers on the side, which concluded in 2022.

Hingham’s selection proved to be a home run, as the Harbormen immediately began winning league championships on a consistent basis. His most memorable stretch during his tenure arguably came in 2005, when his group made a run to the Div. 2 Eastern Mass. championship. Many of those players would go on to have decorated collegiate careers. However, success has come in waves for the Harbormen, especially in recent years.

“I think the biggest thing is watching players develop,” Carlin said. “Watching them start to get it, to work as part of a team. When you see that, you’ve probably done a pretty good job. It’s good to see them get to that place. Then, to run across them many years later and to find that they’re still playing. I think those two things are probably the most meaningful. If they didn’t learn it from anybody, maybe you made them love the game.”

Hingham graduated 24 seniors from last year’s roster. Some might consider that a devastating blow. The Harbormen (3-0), on the other hand, have coasted through their early-season slate. Led by junior captain Jake Riker in net, Hingham has yet to allow a goal through three games. Mason Lemieux (three goals, two assists) leads the team in scoring.

If Carlin has any say, this squad will find a way to compete, and hopefully send him off into the sunset with one more title run.

“My swan song will be with a bunch of great guys who can play well,” said Carlin. “I’m having a lot of fun with this group. They’re getting better and better every week.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/RQyf18n