Football plays its second-to-last home game of the season tonight at 6:30 p.m., taking on Eastern Athletic Conference opponent Bishop Stang.

The field hockey squad took on Plymouth South in its first post-season game on Thursday afternoon. Game coverage is available online at www.mvgazette.com

Boys’ soccer plays its first tournament game in an away game against Scituate Sunday at 3:30 p.m., and the varsity cross country runners compete in the Coaches’ Invitational this Saturday in Wrentham.

Field Hockey

Senior Kendall Robinson lines up shot. — Ivy Ashe

The field hockey team took on Division 1 Needham in a morning match-up last Saturday, fighting to a 1-1 tie. Senior Kendall Robinson scored the lone Vineyard goal on an assist from senior Alex Clark in the first half, but Needham evened the score in the second. The past three matches for the Vineyard have been against strong Division 1 teams (on Friday, the team lost 1-0 to visiting Falmouth), the better to prepare for tournament play, head coach Lisa Knight said.

The game was preceded by senior recognition for the 12 graduating players on the team, some of whom have been playing for Coach Knight since they were sophomores.

But Senior Day didn’t mean good-byes for the team; the field hockey squad continues its season in tournament play. “Last year, [this game] was an end to the season, but we’re still going,” coach Knight said.

Football

Conference challenges persist for the Vineyarders, who fell 47-6 to Bishop Feehan in last Friday’s away game. The team was unable to score until the fourth quarter, when sophomore quarterback Mike Mussell connected with freshman Jacob Cardoza for the touchdown. The team is now 4-4 on the season and 0-3 in the EAC.

Cross Country

The Vineyarders took a second-place finish at last weekend’s Eastern Athletic Conference championship meet, placing behind perennial powerhouse Bishop Feehan. Feehan took six of the top ten spots. Senior Michael Schroeder finished first for the Vineyarders and third overall, running a 16:44. Fellow senior Kyle Joba-Woodruff was next for the team, taking eighth place with a time of 17:07, and junior Jeremy Alley-Tarter came in tenth with a time of 17:15. Seniors Cooper Chapman (13th, 17:28) and Sam Oslyn (17th, 17:56) and juniors Isaiah Maynard (18th, 18:08) and Julian Kelly (19th, 18:44) rounded out the Vineyard finishers. Sophomore Julia Neville placed first for the girls’ squad and 11th overall (21:13) to help the team to a third-place finish in their meet. Junior Willoe Maynard was 13th with a time of 22:15. Senior Hannah Moore took 18th (24:144), and sophomore Willow Wunsch 20th with a time of 24:43. Junior Lilly Neville finished just behind Willow in 24:49. Junior Lucy Norris took 23rd with a time of 25:24.

Senior Jennie Linland. — Ivy Ashe

Girls’ Soccer

Just three seniors played in last Saturday afternoon’s game against Sturgis West Charter, but their contributions echoed from one end of the field to the next in the Vineyarders’ decisive 4-0 win. Senior Jennie Lindland scored twice for the Vineyarders in the first half, while junior Haven Huck also contributed a goal to put the team up 3-0 at the half. Sophomore Annie Ollen added a fourth goal in the second half. Senior Alayna Hutchinson finished the game with three assists. Freshman goalie Emily Turney earned the shutout.

“Everyone played really well; it was a great team effort,” head coach Richard Bennett said. “It’s a great way to end the season.” The three seniors — Lindland, Hutchinson, and Finny Howell — played the entire game.

Last Thursday the girls lost to Mashpee 1-0 on a penalty kick. But that goal was the only one the team has conceded in its past four games, a strong finish to a shaky season against tough competition. The Vineyarders close out the season with a 4-12-1 record, which is “twice as good as we did last year,” Coach Bennett said. “We get a litte better every year.”

Boys’ Soccer

Senior Martin Aranzabe and father Esteban. — Ivy Ashe

The boys’ soccer team took on Sturgis after the girls’ match last Saturday. Senior captain Marc Natichioni scored the first goal of the game, pouncing on a goalbox rebound and driving it home. In the second half, senior Martin Aranzabe drilled a shot from 25 yards out halfway through the second to put the Vineyard up 2-0 and secure the win.

“This team is one of the best I’ve ever coached,” head coach Damon Burke said after the game. “Our record [7-4-5] doesn’t really reflect it . . . but we’re hoping to have a nice long playoff run.”

“I’d like to keep this [season] going as long as possible,” he said. “It’s such a great group.”