Newburyport Soccer: 15 Straight Shutouts Meet a 5-1 Reality Check
The Clippers enter the Division 2 tournament seeking to break a five-year postseason losing streak.
By Yara Nasser ·
The Newburyport girls’ soccer team has conceded a goal just seven times this regular season. That defensive record allowed the Clippers to win 15 consecutive games, all of them shutouts.
Despite that dominance, the team has never advanced past the second round of the statewide tournament since the format began in 2021. Newburyport moved from Division 3 to Division 2 last fall. Junior captain Camila Fuentes believes this group is ready to reach the quarterfinals.
The Clippers finished the regular season with a 15-2-1 record and a Cape Ann League championship. They started 0-1-1 before finding their rhythm. Coach Kevin Sheridan credits senior captain Elise Kennedy for anchoring the back line. He also points to fellow senior captains Delaney Duncan and Emily Homer, as well as junior Lea Mosquera.
Sheridan called Kennedy the best player on the field in every game this year. He said her organization in the back is responsible for much of the team’s success. The squad knows they must improve to compete at the next level.
A reality check arrived in the regular season finale. The Clippers lost 5-1 to Division 1 contender Central Catholic on Monday. That result ended a 55 day winning streak. It was their first defeat since Sept. 8.
Sheridan said he liked how the team reacted after conceding for the first time in over seven weeks. He believes the shutout streak is now behind them. The team is focusing on composure and intensity for the upcoming single elimination games.
Junior Ruby Reardon, who leads the team with 17 goals, said communication is key. She noted that other teams seem afraid of how the Clippers talk to one another on the field. The group is also drilling penalty kicks, an area that could decide a tie game.
Reardon said players must commit to their shots without second guessing. The team did not attempt a penalty kick during the regular season. Kennedy said the group is competitive but close, and she believes that bond is a major strength.
