As all fall sports teams approach the final bend in their seasons, players must find that extra amount of strength and dedication in order to make the state tournament. Although some players are already looking forwards to their winter sports, they must help their team maintain a .500 record in order to make the playoffs.
ORR boys’ soccer is one of those teams. The boys kept their playoff dreams alive with a 5-5 tie against Fairhaven in a bizarre game. Going into the final 15 minutes, ORR was up 4-1 over the Blue Devils. Earlier in the game, junior Alden Truesdale and senior Max Houck each had netted a goal and Mikey Pruchnik had scored two, giving the Bulldogs a considerable lead over Fairhaven.
However, the Blue Devils went on an incredible offensive streak, scoring 4 goals in 8 minutes to give them a 5-4 lead with a few minutes left. With just over a minute left, Truesdale scored again, evening the score. With just four games left, the boys, whose record stands at 3-7-2, must win all of their remaining games if they hope to make a tournament run.
Girls’ soccer also improved their chances on making the playoffs, as they won against Fairhaven 1-0. The game was scoreless going into the second half, but after 13 minutes, senior Hannah Walsh scored with an assist from freshman Midfielder Sarah Beaulieu. Goalie Mikayla Demanche made 10 saves in net, one being a penalty kick. This win snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Lady Bulldogs, and with four games left, the girls, whose record is 5-6-3, must win three games in order to make the tournament.
In other news, the girls’ field hockey team won 5-0 against Fairhaven thanks to Ally Saccone and Katie Wilbur, who each scored two goals, and Abby Offringa, who chipped in with a goal and an assist. Carly Pelissier also had two assists and Goalie Hannah Cormier provided a shutout for the Lady Bulldogs, whose record now stands at 9-1-3. The girls will definitely be advancing to the field hockey state tournament, where they look to go far in the Division 3 competition.
By Michael Kassabian