Rockets Review: Fall Seasons Underway

By Micah Hauben, NHS Director of Athletics

Each of the Rockets teams in action last week came away with at least one win.

Girls volleyball started off the fall season on the road at Mansfield on Tuesday, Sept. 4 with a big 3-set win, while field hockey, and girls and boys soccer came away with quality league victories over Brookline on Wednesday, Sept. 5.

Golf also started the season off on Wednesday, easily taking down Milton, before coming out on top of Brookline by only two strokes on Thursday, Sept. 6. On Friday, girls soccer was the only Needham squad to beat Wellesley (2-1), as boys soccer, girls volleyball and field hockey all lost close games.

Friday night marked the home opener for the football team against Norwood, and although the start of the game was delayed more than an hour due to lightning, the Rockets came out intense and focused, blanking the visiting Mustangs 27-0.

Although the defense came up big all night for Needham, Junior Mike Panepinto was the clear offensive star of the game, rushing for 175 yards and one score. The Boston Globe also recognized his performance, naming him one of their Players of the Week.

Football will get a very tough early test on Friday night, Sept. 14 as they travel to Mansfield for their one non-league game of the season. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

All other NHS teams will also be in action this week, with girls swimming and diving opening up their season on Tuesday night, Sept. 11 at Babson at 7 p.m. vs. Weymouth, and boys and girls cross country starting up on Wednesday, Sept. 12, taking on Dedham and Braintree at Norwood's Coakley Middle School.

The first night soccer game of the fall will also take place this week, as boys soccer will host division rival Framingham on Tuesday night, Sept. 11 at 7:15 p.m. on

Check http://nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/athletics for full team schedules.

Rockets Review is a weekly update distributed by email by Needham High School Director of Athletics Micah Hauben and published with permission on Needham Patch. Additional athletics information can be found on the NHS Athletic Department Web site.