Falmouth flavor to MMA soccer

November 7, 2012

By John Garner, Jr., Cape Cod Times

Despite narrowly missing the conference playoffs, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy men's soccer team enjoyed one of its most successful seasons ever. 

MMA vaulted to a 6-3-1 start before finishing 6-9-2.

Leading the Bucs were four local players, including three from Falmouth: senior back Adam Rabesa, senior forward Derek Young and his brother, sophomore goalie Brett Young. Sophomore back Dillon Jones of Sagamore Beach also contributed.

"We had a strong defensive club, but trouble scoring goals, especially down the final stretch," said MMA head soccer coach Greg Perry, now in his 20th season at the academy. "Our local guys led the way, especially our co-captains, Derek and Adam. Brett Young was very consistent in goal for us all season."

Rabesa was honored on the first team of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference all-stars. Brett Young was named to the second team.

Rabesa started all 17 contests and helped anchor a defense that allowed just 1.17 goals per contest. Brett Young ranked second in the conference with a 1.07 goals against average and five shutouts.

Derek Young finished as third leading scorer on the team with three goals and two assists.

Joining Rabesa on the MASCAC first team from MMA was fellow defender Asa Mills (Westport). Midfielder Rob Robbs (Braintree) was on the second team.

On Campus

Two members of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy women's soccer team were named to the MASCAS all-conference squad. Senior Kim Courcy (Warwick, R.I) earned first-team accolades as a back. Freshman goalie Katie Levesque (Wilmot, N.H.) was named to second team.

Keene State freshmen Kaylee Deluga (Dennis) was recently named Little East volleyball rookie of the week. She averaged 10.4 kills and was on the Union College All-Tournament Team.

Freshman Meghan Talerman (Centerville) is a member of the Bentley field hockey team (9-6, 6-2 NE-10), which is regionally ranked in NCAA Div. II.

The former Barnstable standout is second on the team in goals scored.

Former Barnstable standout Chelsea Hayes (Marstons Mills) of the Western New England field hockey team has twice been named Commonwealth Coast Rookie of the Week.

Junior Liz Leonardi (Sandwich) of the MMA women's cross country team placed 294th out of 453 competitors with a time of 28:42.18 at the Westfield State James Earley Invitational at Stanley Park.

Colby Dalton (North Eastham) is a junior linebacker on the Bentley football team (5-2) and two of his teammates are 6-4, 265-pound sophomore tackle John Giery (Falmouth) and 6-2, 180-pound sophomore receiver Matt Dawson (South Yarmouth).

John Lavin (Falmouth) is a 6-5, 200-pound tight end for the Bryant football team.

Joe Jamiel (West Yarmouth) is a senior wide receiver for Sacred Heart (2-5) and has caught 10 passes for 106 yards. The Pioneers have beaten Central Connecticut and Dartmouth.

Elizabeth Wilsterman (Chatham) of Connecticut College has been named to The Intercollegiate Sailing Association All-Academic Team. She majors in economics.

Junior goalie Melanie Hopkins (Harwich) is starting goalie for the UMass-Lowell field hockey team that captured its third straight Northeast-10 Championship with a 1-0 win over top-seeded Merrimack. With the win, UMass Lowell improved to 18-3 and received a bid to the NCAA Div. II Tournament.

Senior Alison Melley (Centerville) of the Bryant women's soccer team concluded her collegiate career. Melley, a center midfielder and business finance major, helped lead Bryant to its most successful season as a Division 1 program in school history. The Bulldogs finished 11-8 tied for fourth place in the Northeast Conference.

The Bentley women's basketball team is the second-ranked team nationally in the NCAA Div. II preseason poll. Junior forward Caleigh Crowell (Harwich), who averaged nearly nine points and was one of the Northeast-10's top three-point shooters last winter, is a key contributor for the Falcons.

Under the direction of head coach Josh Edmed (Yarmouth), the Connecticut College women's volleyball team is top ranked in the New England Volleyball Association poll. The Camels have won nine consecutive matches and are undefeated in October and finished the regular season with a 20-2 record.