Tide girls’ soccer wallops Chelsea to snap four-game losing streak

Everett preps to host non-league Reading Monday to begin brand new week

By Joe McConnell

After dropping two straight games last week to Medford (4-1) and Malden (2-1), the Everett High School girls’ soccer team (4-7) bounced back nicely on Tuesday to beat Chelsea going away, 9-1. The win over the Red Devils broke a four-game losing streak.

“We started the game very flat (versus Chelsea), but we began to roll once we scored the first goal,” said coach Dom Persuitte.

Emilia Maria-Babcock ignited the attack against Chelsea with a goal assisted by Yelsa Garcia, who later scored two of her own to lead the way. Maria Silvestri setup one of her two tallies, while Layla Cardona helped out on the other marker.

Besides Garcia’s two goals, she was also a major player in assisting her teammates on offense. Garcia provided an assist on Cardona’s rocket shot past the Chelsea keeper.

Luna Sepulveda Maselli worked tirelessly throughout, before finally finding the back of the net after a Chelsea turnover. “She played the entire game, not giving up once,” said Persuitte.

“We also capitalized off Chelsea misplays a handful of times that allowed Emilia Maria-Babcock and Gabby Lones to score goals,” added the Everett coach. “Lones also helped out in the second half of the game on the left-side wing. Besides scoring her first goal of the season, she also assisted on a goal by freshman Marianna Rodriguez, who is on the rise (as a future star).”

Shyann Ambersley recorded her first career varsity goal during the team’s offensive onslaught. She was also credited with three shots on the net. Layla Leles stepped up big on the wing, never giving up, while constantly going after the ball, according to the coach, who also said that midfielder Khadijia Moutaouakkii played outstanding soccer in this game, as she continually pursued the ball and winning most 50/50 opportunities. Alondra Flores controlled the game’s flow to help secure the triumph, added the coach.

Garcia scored the lone goal against Medford assisted by Cardona. Maria-Babcock played lights out in her new role on defense, controlling the ball in every aspect of the game.

Laura Sanchez played her final game as a goalkeeper after sustaining a broken thumb during the match. Despite the injury, she was phenomenal in net, turning away at least 10 shots, while only conceding four, according to Persuitte. She also stopped one of two penalty kicks.

The Malden game went back and forth, with the Golden Tornadoes striking first. “We missed a few opportunities at the beginning of the first half, which could have swayed the game our way,” said Persuitte.

Maria-Babcock accounted for Everett’s lone goal from Garcia, whose initial shot hit the crossbar, but her teammate was right there to put home the rebound.

“The entire team turned in a solid effort from backup goalie Kaylee Velasques to veterans Aldrona Flores, Shyann Amberlys, Yelsa Garcia and Layla Cardona,” said Persuitte. “The defense really stood out, with Shyann leading the way alongside Casey Martinez, Glediy Tejada and Sofia Arana-Quintanilla. Freshman Kayla Andrade played well on the wing in just her second varsity game.”

The Everett girls have since gone up against Revere on Oct. 12 after press deadline, before getting ready to host non-league Reading on Monday (Oct. 16) at 7-Acres, beginning at 4:30 p.m. They will then be taking on host Lynn English at Lynn’s Manning Field the next day, starting at 5:30 p.m.