YES! Ursuline Soccer Curse Reversed
In 1994, the Ursuline Academy Varsity Soccer squad beat Notre Dame Academy of Hingham. Since that fateful day sixteen years ago, the team's strategies have proven unsuccessful against those relentless rivals from the south (shore). Until now.
On September 14, the bears "reversed the curse" and overcame NDA 2-1 in a heated match up in Hingham. Coach John Forte, who joined the Bears in 2005, calls the win a "team effort" and commends his players for fighting hard to hold their lead.
 |
After an even fight early in the game, NDA scored first in the 25th minute on a solid shot from 18 yards out. However, it was from that moment on that Ursuline controlled things between the posts. Just thirteen minutes after her team fell behind, Ursuline sophmore Christina Doran took a shot from 25 yards out that caught the goalie off her line. The score was even once again.
By half-time, Junior goalie Alicia McNally already had a few impressive saves under her belt, while defenders Meg Porter, Steph Klaubert, Fran Coughlin and Kiara Hanlon worked hard on defense to keep her out of trouble. Just three minutes into the half, Sophmore Kristen Hickey put the bears ahead with a direct shot off a pass from Senior Captain Kaitln Shea. The rest is history.
In just 43 minutes of play, the 2010 Ursuline varsity soccer team successfully reversed the sixteen year curse. Cheering could be heard from players on the field, fans in the stands, and even from a few former teammates who got the good news via Facebook that day.
"NDA was always a game that we looked forward to all season in hopes of coming out with a win against our rivals," says 2003 graduate Krista Ianoni, who was once a strong player for Ursuline."It is great to see that UA has excelled in athletics and has finally gotten us that big red “W” for the books." In addition to positive remarks from various former Bears, fifteen former students from a variety of graduating years "liked" the status update that noted the big W.
 |
Though athletes and coaches have come and gone with passing years, determination and great school spirit has remained the driving inspiration for Ursuline athletes year after year. For many years after games vs. NDA, as the team boarded the bus home with heavy heads, coaches would quote American Football Coach Vince Lombardi, assuring them that "winning isn't everything."
According to this year's team and all those former athletes who are celebrating with them today, winning may not be everything, but it sure doesn't hurt.
[Photos courtesy Dedham Patch]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Time Is On Our Side
Some of the most exciting moments in sports happen at the buzzer. Think of how many athletes are forced to take that heroic shot from center court, as time runs out tick by tock. Now, imagine that same moment with a broken score board: the athlete makes it to half-court, quickly peeks up at the wall to see if she can get to the hoop before the buzzer, only to find that the clock is frozen at :03 seconds.Last year, as Ursuline basketball and volleyball athletes took to the court, it was quite apparent that the decades old scoreboard lighting the gymnasium wall above them was ready to retire from its career in sports. Perhaps keeping tabs of all the Ursuline Academy earned points over the years had finally taken a toll, as the clock acted finicky for almost every game played during the fall and winter '09 seasons.
In an effort to enhance the game experience for athletes, coaches and fans, Ursuline sought assistance from long-time supporter Needham Bank, who kindly donated a brand new piece of equipment to track Ursuline's many points. "We have a long history with Ursuline Academy, and we are happy to support the school," says Mark Whalen, Senior Vice President of Needham Bank.
In addition to supporting the physical improvement of Ursuline, Needham Bank is also a great supporter of education. Each year, one graduating senior from UA is selected to receive a scholarship which was established to support college endeavors. Class of 2010 graduate Liann Devereux, a former all-star track athlete and dedicated student, received the award during a Class Day presentation last year.
To celebrate the addition of the scoreboard, as well as the enhanced locker room adjacent to the gymnasium, the Ursuline community gathered at a Fall Mass & Picnic event late yesterday afternoon. With guidance from Father Oscar Pratt at the altar, the entire congregation extended their hands toward the newest gifts to Ursuline Academy to bless them and those who were kind enough to support our school.
In an effort to enhance the game experience for athletes, coaches and fans, Ursuline sought assistance from long-time supporter Needham Bank, who kindly donated a brand new piece of equipment to track Ursuline's many points. "We have a long history with Ursuline Academy, and we are happy to support the school," says Mark Whalen, Senior Vice President of Needham Bank.
To celebrate the addition of the scoreboard, as well as the enhanced locker room adjacent to the gymnasium, the Ursuline community gathered at a Fall Mass & Picnic event late yesterday afternoon. With guidance from Father Oscar Pratt at the altar, the entire congregation extended their hands toward the newest gifts to Ursuline Academy to bless them and those who were kind enough to support our school.
