St. Clement Sports Report

Volleyball

Left to right, back row: Head Coach Lisa Regione, Judy D’Haiti, Kristina Ofoedu, Allison Caloggero, Kayla Morello, Megan Berg, Camilla Souza and Kaelyn Walsh. Front row: Kaitie Monestime, Jessica Popken and Christina Puccio. Courtesy photo.

The St. Clement Lady Anchors Volleyball team hosted the quarter finals of the Division Three North State Tournament on Monday, November 7 after receiving a first round bye. Saint Clement was the fourth seed and ended the regular season with an overall record of 15-5.

The Lady Anchors hosted their league rivals, Pope John of Everett, in the quarter finals. Pope John was the fifth seed and also held a record of 15-5. With both teams being evenly matched, the game was a nail-biter. The Lady Anchors captured the victory over the Lady Tigers three games to two. Junior captain Judy D’Haiti (Cambridge) had twelve service points, five aces and once again helped the team with critical saves. Freshman Jessica Popken (Medford) led the Lady Anchors to victory with sixteen service points, six aces, and four kills. Junior captain Kristina Ofoedu (Somerville) smacked nine kills on the net and also had four crucial blocks. Junior captain Allison Caloggero (Medford) quietly helped the team with nineteen digs.

“They played their hearts out and executed what I’ve been telling them all year,” said Coach Lisa Regione. “They fought for every point and made me proud!”

After the exciting victory, the Lady Anchors traveled to Lynnfield on Wednesday, November 9 for the semi-finals. Unfortunately, the Lady Anchors lost 3-0 to the top-seeded and undefeated Lynnfield High School.

The Lady Anchors experienced their most successful season this fall. They qualified for the State Tournament for the first time in eleven years, placed second in the Catholic Central League (CCL), and finished with an overall record of 16-6. The Lady Anchors proudly named Kristina Ofoedu and Allison Caloggero as 2011 CCL all stars. Saint Clement looks for another successful season with the exact same team next year.

Football

St. Clement falls to Pope John Hyannis 38-20

The Anchormen fell to new league rival Pope John Paul from Hyannis on Saturday, 38-20, at Dilboy Stadium. Pope John got the scoring off to a quick start with a touchdown pass from senior quarterback and league MVP candidate Robert Domboski to Ben Crago on the first drive of the game. St. Clement would answer on its first drive as Jamie Thompson (Somerville) hit Junior Oyaronbi (Revere) for the tenth time this season on a 54-yard toss.

In the second quarter it was more of the same. Both teams traded rushing touchdowns, Jeff Borne for Pope John and senior captain Mattew Pereira (Somerville) for the Anchormen. Domboski and Crago would connect on another TD and the Anchomen would answer as Oyaronbi would return a Domboski interception 78-yards to pay-dirt to end the half Pope John 22, St. Clement 20. The third quarter went scoreless as the Anchormen squandered away an opportunity on 4th and 3 from the Pope John 16 as the hand off was fumbled and the Anchormen would not get that close again for the rest of the game.

In the 4th quarter Pope John capitalized on a Thompson interception and scored quickly on first down to go ahead for the remainder of the game.

“Our kids fought hard, we had to overcome a lot of adversity as far as injuries are concerned, in the end they had the bounces go their way,” said Coach Colin Walsh.

The Anchormen were without starting running back Alberto Lopez (Chelsea) and senior captain Michael Julce (Malden) for the third straight game, as well as starting center Connor Sullivan (Charlestown) and senior Alex Fagundes (Somerville). The Anchormen look to rebound on Thanksgiving against arch rival Trinity Catholic. 

Anchormen Prepare to Feast on Falcon this Thanksgiving

For the 22nd straight and final time the St. Clement Anchormen will face the Trinity Catholic Falcons (Newton) this Thanksgiving at 10:00am at Tufts University.

Head Coach Colin Walsh and the entire St. Clement community look to put the Falcons away for fourth straight year and to end the rivalry in winning fashion. Over the years the two schools have had some legendary grudge matches, including a 6-6 tie back in 1990 to start the rivalry. In 2008 The Falcons held on to win 20-14 in double overtime, and two years ago the Robert Ofoedu (Somerville) broke the St. Clement school rushing record in front of a capacity crowd with a 42-0 St. Clement win.

At the end of the school year Trinity Catholic will close its doors and Mount St. Josephs (Brighton) will become co-ed and start its first football team.

“Its really sad for me to hear the last rival from the Catholic Suburban League is now gone,” said Walsh. “We have had some tremendous games with them, but we look forward to starting anew with Mount St. Josephs next year.”

Trinity formed from Newton Catholic, St. Columkille of Brighton, and St. Patricks of Watertown at the conclusion of the 1989 football season. The Anchormen defeated St. Patrick’s 12-8 on a Thanksgiving morning goal line stand when senior captain Chris Mickle stuffed a rushing attempt on the 1-yard line as time expired to close the then long-time rivalry.

“We take pride in being a small school that has endured and we look forward to carry the flag for the old Suburban league by continuing to build on the winning tradition we have built here,” said Coach Walsh.

To start the day the team will host a Pancake Breakfast for all current and former football players at the parish hall from 7:00am – 9:00am. The Anchormen will look to finish the season 6-4 with a victory.

– Submitted by Dina Caloggero