10 the Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn., Wednesday, October 4, 2017

lyman memorial’s

katee meese parish hill’s

lucian araujo

By MIKE SYPHERChronicle Sports Editor

High school student/athletes aren’t required to declare majors when it comes to their academic pursuits, but if they did, it’s a given what Lyman Memorial’s Katee Meese would focus on in the classroom: Communications.

Patrolling her side of the net throughout each match with her Lyman Memorial girls volleyball teammates, Meese, a senior libero, concentrates on keeping the communication lines open, a component of the game that is so vitally impor-tant when it comes to success for her Bulldogs.

And it’s that success, both personal and team-wide, that has helped Meese earn this week’s female athlete of the week award here at the Chronicle.

If there was any doubt about what sport Lucian Araujo would focus on once he arrived at Parish Hill High School, the seeds were sown years before when the talented soccer player, now a junior standout with the Pirates, took his first steps as a toddler.

“Ever since I was a child, ever since I could walk, I’ve been interested in soccer,” said Lucian, who credits his father, Manny, who loved the game of ‘futbol’ while growing up in Portugal, with instilling that same love of The Beautiful Game in his son.

And the Pirates are certainly loving the fact that Manny and Nancy Araujo’s son loves ripping the soccer ball into the back of the net enough times to be honored as the male athlete of the week in Week 3 of the season by the Chronicle.

With nine goals and five assists thus far this season, Lucian has helped his Pirates, 12-5-1 a year ago, surge out to a 9-1 start this fall.

“When I was younger I played a little basketball, too, said Lucian, who mans the striker position for his Pirates. “I’ve been a striker ever since I started playing Rec games at QVCC and right through ODP and Premier soccer before high school.”

And what makes Lucian so dangerous when it comes to providing offense for his Parish Hill squad?

“Honestly, I think it’s my teammates,” Araujo said. “They all are a very big part of it. I think my speed and ballhandling, for sure, are my biggest strengths but all of my teammates are very good passers and we all have very good communication with each other.”

Fourth-year Parish Hill coach Nourddine Jalal has his own ideas about what makes his junior offensive spark plug fire on all cylinders.

“Luke has been with us for the last three years and so far, this is the best year for him,” said Jalal. “He’s giving every-thing he’s got to help the team win. Luke brings strong energy to every game he plays and we’re working on developing his underlying leadership skills.”

There’s plenty to like about what Meese is providing her Bulldogs with this season as last year’s CIAC Class S state champions have picked up right where they left off last fall.

Following Monday’s 3-game sweep of Wheeler, Lyman Memorial boasts an overall mark of 10-0 en route to the No. 7 ranking — up from No. 10 the previous week — in the CT Volleyball Coaches Poll.

A perfect 4-0 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division III race, the Bulldogs face a stiff challenge tonight when they take on No. 5 state-ranked Killingly (11-0) at 5:30 p.m. in Lebanon.

“Winning the state championship last year was frankly indescribable. It was an amazing thing to be a part of,” said Meese, who has served as Lyman Memorial’s libero for two consecutive seasons and collected 40 aces, 89 digs and serve receptions (134 attempts, 10 errors) — all team-leading totals — entering Monday’s match against Wheeler.

“My teammates are some of my best friends and Coach [Marty] Gomez and [Coach Amanda] Nappi have come to be some of the most influential people in my life. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to do it with.”

Nappi took over the program after serving as assistant coach for Gomez during their run to the state title. Nappi was effusive in her praise of Meese.

“Katee is one of our most experienced players with two years as the starting libero and one year as a defensive spe-cialist on the varsity team,” said Nappi. “She brings so much consistency to our first contact and is the leader on the court for our defense and serve receive.

“Despite her success, she continues to look for ways to improve and has put in more extra work outside of practice this season than any other player. She’s a quiet person off the court, but has developed into a vocal leader on the court. On top of it all she’s very smart and driven — and a pretty good softball pitcher, too — and all-around a terrific kid.”

“Since I’m on the floor almost the entire time, it’s important for me to play a big role in keeping up communication and focus, especially in tougher situations,” said Meese, who lists marketing and — go figure! — communications as possible academic pursuits in college. “I was the libero last season as well but my role in terms of team dynamics was more limited than it is this year. We had three great leaders in our seniors last year and and they did a great job of communicating and keeping up energy on the floor.

“I’ve done what I can this year to take what I’ve learned from them and previous teammates over the years and apply it in positive ways.”

For your latest localHigh School & college

scores online at

theChronicle.comFor the Best local

Game coverage

the Chronicle

Thomas J. Nanos | Special to the ChronicleSenior libero Katee Meese of the Lyman Memorial girls volleyball program has helped lead her Bulldogs to the No. 7 ranking in the CT Volleyball Coaches Poll with a perfect 10-0 overall record that includes a 4-0 start to the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division III portion of their schedule.

Grant Decyk | For the ChronicleJunior Lucian Araujo has hit the back of the net nine times and dished off five assists thus far this season for his Parish Hill boys soccer team while helping the Pirates, who are 9-1 overall and 4-0 in the Capital Region Athletic League, surge into the CIAC’s Class M/S coaches’ poll (No. 11) for the first time in program history.

383 Trumbull Hwy / Rte 87, Lebanon, CT • Lunch & Dinner 7 Days a Week • Take-Out & Delivery Call: 860.456.7663 • www.logcabinct.com

PRouDLy HonoRs ATHLeTes of the WeekLucian Araujo

soccer, Parish Hillkatee Meese

Volleyball, Lyman Memorial

Congratulations to:katee Meese of Lyman Memorial

Lucian Araujo of Parish HillGo Bulldogs! Go Pirates!

Peter Leeds 860-377-4433“Not Just The Sports Guy”

“The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare.”

Juma Ikangaa, winner of the 1989 New York City Marathon

Second-half outburst leads surging Warriors to victory

PROVIDENCE — The Eastern Connecticut State University field hockey team has been a slow starter but a fast finisher this season.

And Tuesday’s night’s 3-2 non-conference victory over Johnson & Wales University was a perfect example.

Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Eastern (4-6) scored all of its goals in a

span of 27 minutes in the second half to defeat Johnson & Wales (2-7) for the third straight season and record its third win in the last four tries following a 1-5 start.

Sophomore forward Khiara Valentine moved into a tie for fifth place in scoring in the Little East Conference with her sixth and sev-enth goals of the year.

Senior goaltender Maddie LaRusso shut out the Wildcats over the final 29 minutes and senior forward Tia LaFrance Boyce broke a tie with her second game-win-ning goal of the season with under four minutes left on freshman Julia Koonjy’s second assist of the sea-son.

Valentine, who has six goals in the team’s last four matches, tied the contest twice.

Her first tally knotted matters at 1-all four minutes into the second half on an assist from senior all-time scoring leader Alex Kallgren and her second goal made it a 2-2 deadlock eight minutes later when she converted an unassisted marker.

The game appeared headed for overtime before LaFrance Boyce controlled the ball in front of the goal, spun to her left and fired a

shot past Johnson and Wales junior goalkeeper Claire Nolan for her second game-winning goal in four matches.

Johnson & Wales leading scorer Adriana Scala entered play with five goals but was limited to just one off-the mark shot by the Eastern defense.

LaRusso stopped seven shots for her fourth win while Nolan kicked out eight.

ECSU Roundup

the ChronicleAs seen In