As we enter the final week of interscholastic competition for the fall season, our Belmont Day teams continue to demonstrate the growth, determination, and teamwork that have defined the past several months. From exciting victories and hard-fought ties to impressive individual performances, the Blue and Gold have competed with pride. While the final scores tell part of the story, the progress our student-athletes have made since September is what stands out most as we prepare to wrap up another terrific fall season.
The week began Tuesday with boys’ JV soccer battling Shady Hill to a 1–1 tie. Adam Bechor Neumark provided the afternoon’s offensive highlight with a spectacular direct kick from midfield that found the back of the net. It was an impressive goal and another example of the confidence and skill that Adam and his teammates have developed throughout the season. The Blue and Gold continued to compete hard against a familiar opponent, earning a well-deserved draw.
Field hockey also traveled to BB&N on Tuesday and put together an excellent performance despite falling 4–2. Josie Goldstyn and Clara Min provided the offensive highlights, with Josie battling for position in the scoring circle and Clara perfectly positioned at the post to knock the ball past the goalkeeper. Lara Ulukan was outstanding in the midfield, using her speed and endurance to support the defense and transition the ball up the field. Lark Stilt McClelland also delivered a tremendous effort, consistently getting open for passes, using her stick skills to regain possession, and making smart decisions to clear the ball away from dangerous areas. It was a terrific all-around effort and another example of how much the team has developed throughout the season.
Varsity volleyball opened its week Tuesday with a convincing two-set victory over Carroll, 25–11 and 25–15. The Blue and Gold demonstrated strong serving, communication, and teamwork throughout the match. With a comfortable lead in the opening set, the coaches challenged every player to serve from behind the end line, including those who typically serve from a shorter distance, and the entire team rose to the occasion. Gwen Wagner made several heads-up plays to keep the ball alive, while Kayla Li and Maryanna Lindstrom-Chalpin were consistently ready to react to anything Carroll sent over the net. The game was an excellent opportunity for the team to challenge itself while continuing to build confidence and consistency.
Wednesday brought another exciting afternoon, highlighted by a dominant 7–1 victory for boys’ varsity soccer over Dedham Country Day. Silas O’Brien led the offensive attack with an outstanding hat trick, helping the Blue and Gold put together one of their strongest scoring performances of the season. Defensively, Ben Street and Ilyas Kanzi Belghiti were terrific, consistently disrupting DCD’s attack and helping BDS maintain control of the game. The team delivered an impressive performance and closed out the competitive portion of the fall schedule.
Girls’ varsity soccer also faced Dedham Country Day on Wednesday and battled to an exciting 3–3 tie. One highlight of the afternoon was the return of Serena Rosenfeld, who was back on the field after missing time with an injury. Serena wasted no time making an impact, aggressively challenging for 50-50 balls, taking on defenders with confidence, and creating opportunities for her teammates. She delivered a beautiful pass to Lucy Rodriguez that helped set up the team’s first goal. It was wonderful to see Serena back in action and contributing so positively to her team’s effort.
JV volleyball put together one of its most complete performances of the season Wednesday, earning a dominant 2–0 victory over Carroll. The team played with tremendous confidence, enthusiasm, and teamwork, with consistent and aggressive serving leading the way. Maitri Bonthapally and Catherine Hunt were perfect from the service line, connecting on 100 percent of their serves while scoring nine and seven points, respectively. Cora Stack made eight of nine serves, Lily Bandar connected on nine of eleven, Eva Moy Truong made six of seven, and Caroline Frost converted six of eight, including three service aces! Christopher Baker also contributed two aces. Beyond the impressive serving statistics, what stood out most was the team’s positive attitude and constant encouragement of one another. The progress this group has made since the beginning of the season has been tremendous, and their coaches could not be prouder of how they have come together.
Varsity volleyball returned to the court Wednesday for a challenging match against a strong Dexter Southfield team, falling in two competitive sets, 21–25 and 18–25. The Blue and Gold embraced the opportunity to experiment with different positions, requiring players to communicate, adjust, and support one another in new ways. Sofia Clark-Quintanilla and Celine Li both had opportunities to attack from the front row, while Elsie Yang stepped into a setting role and worked hard to keep the offense moving. Although Southfield’s strong serving proved difficult to handle at times, BDS battled and remained competitive throughout both sets. It was another valuable opportunity for the team to demonstrate its versatility and growth.
Varsity flag Football also faced a challenging opponent Wednesday, falling 47–0 to BB&N. Despite the difficult matchup, the Blue and Gold continued to compete and look for opportunities to make plays. Frederick Mak delivered two impressive interceptions on defense, while Colin Walker helped generate several promising offensive opportunities that nearly resulted in points. While the outcome wasn’t what the team hoped for, the effort and determination shown throughout the game reflected the resilience athletics helps develop.
The varsity flag football team then returned to action Thursday for an epic season finale against Rashi, putting everything together in a thrilling wire-to-wire contest! While we ultimately fell one play short, Woody Evans delivered two spectacular touchdowns to lead the offense, and Des Van Wesep was a force at linebacker, making several crucial flag pulls that stopped Rashi’s momentum. Jonathan Deng was equally impressive defensively, batting down multiple passes and disrupting the opposing offense. It was an exciting way to conclude the competitive season, with the Blue and Gold demonstrating the teamwork, determination, and growth they have developed throughout the fall.
As we reflect on this final week of competition, there is so much to celebrate across our fall athletics program. Our students have grown as athletes, teammates, competitors, and leaders. They have learned to respond to adversity, embrace new challenges, support one another, and recognize that improvement comes through consistent effort and a willingness to learn. Those lessons extend far beyond the fields, courts, and trails and reflect the educational purpose of athletics at Belmont Day.
Looking ahead, while our interscholastic competitions are coming to a close, our fall athletics season is not quite finished! The following week will bring several special events and opportunities for our teams to come together, celebrate their accomplishments, and bring the season to a fitting close. We look forward to sharing more about those experiences as we recognize the hard work and commitment of our student-athletes and coaches.
Until then, our focus remains on finishing strong, supporting our teammates, and representing the Blue and Gold with the same effort, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship that have carried us throughout the fall.
Go, BDS!
