Lee's Lucy, McCann Tech's Phillips Earn Weekly Honors

This week's iBerkshires.com/Bedard Bros. Athletes of the Week have helped lead their respective teams to resurgences in recent years.

 

The Lee High girls soccer program won a combined three games in 2023 and '24.

 

But the Wildcats roared back last season with a 15-5 campaign that included a trip to the Western Massachusetts Class D semi-finals.

 

This fall, Lee is 8-1-1 after three wins this week, and junior Ava Lucy is a big reason why.

 

Lucy had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over Westfield Tech on Tuesday and a pair of goals in a win over Taconic on Friday.

 

She is among the team leaders in scoring this season for a Lee team that is currently ranked No. 22 in the commonwealth in Division 5 with at least eight more games to improve that ranking and play its way into a first-round home game in the state tournament.

 

Lee continues its drive for the post-season on Tuesday when it visits Mount Everett for a rematch against the Eagles before finishing the week with home games against Commerce and Gateway on Thursday and Friday.

 

The McCann Tech football team cannot play at home again until the post-season, which means its fans will have to drive a little to get another look at the best Hornets team in six seasons.

 

The Hornets went 0-7 last fall before winning their last two games in the non-qualifier weeks at the end of the season.

 

But winning has been a regular thing on Hodges Cross Road this fall.

 

After a road loss in the opener, the Hornets have won three straight games, outscoring opponents by a combined 90-28.

 

Friday's Senior Night win belonged to senior quarterback Landyn Phillips, who threw for 157 yards and two toucdowns and ran for 113 yards in the Hornets' league opener against Monument Mountain.

 

Phillips dazzled the home crowd, especially in the clutch.

 

In the second quarter, he ran 14 yards on a fourth-and-10 to extend a drive that ended in McCann Tech's first scoring drive of the comeback win.

 

In the third, he completed an 18-yard pass to Terrae Fuller on fourth-and-10 that extended the Hornets' second scoring drive.

 

And in a drive that spanned the third and fourth quarters, he went 4-for-4 through the air for 32 yards, including the 7-yard game-winner to Marquese Moody.

 

The Hornets (3-1), who are looking to make their first state tournament appearance since winning the Western Massachusetts D6 title in 2014, entered the weekend ranked No. 20 in Division 8, four spots out of playoff position.

 

They will look to continue climbing on Friday when they visit Pathfinder (3-2).

 

The iBerkshires.com Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Bedard Bros.