Jessica DiPhilippo wasn’t about to be unprepared. After graduating from Falmouth High last spring as a three-sport athlete, she was determined to be in the best possible shape for her freshman year at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass.

So she pushed herself all summer. And the results are impressive.

DiPhilippo, who led Falmouth to the girls’ soccer Class B state championship a year ago, has become one of the team’s biggest threats, with five goals and two assists.

“She just made an impact upon stepping on campus,” said Nellie Pineault, coach of the 10-2-1 Beavers. “She came in fit and ready to go and certainly hasn’t looked back.

“She’s fit right in with the team and is a pleasure to have, both as a soccer player and a person.”

DiPhilippo said she spoke to some of the team’s upperclassmen last spring and heeded their advice to stick to the summer training program. Still, she is surprised at her scoring output.

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“I didn’t think I’d make that much of an impact,” she said. “I feel like this is a big accomplishment. I’m having a great time.”

She was recently named the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference player of the week.

“It’s a lot to ask of a freshman to play like she has,” said Pineault. “But she has great size and speed and both have contributed to her success.

“She has a real good sense around the goal in terms of where to be. She plays almost the entire game and is an integral part of our attacking mentality.”

DiPhilippo showed that potential at Falmouth, where she had eight goals and nine assists as a senior, including the winning goal on a penalty kick in the state final.

Elizabeth Estabrook, a goalkeeper at Falmouth with DiPhilippo, is also on Babson’s roster.

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“It’s kind of ironic,” said DiPhilippo. “I had no idea she was interested in Babson but we were both recruited. It made it easier coming here knowing I knew someone on the team already.”

As well as she’s playing, DiPhilippo is more excited about the team’s success.

“And I don’t think we’ve reached our potential yet,” she said. “We definitely have the ingredients to be really great.”

CREW

Senior Tess Wiggins of Cape Elizabeth, sophomore Christine Reighley of Freeport (North Yarmouth Academy) and sophomore Katie Paige of Brunswick (NYA) were members of the William Smith varsity eight that won the HWS Challenge on the Canal (with a time of 17:24) and was named Liberty League boat of the week.

CROSS COUNTRY

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Tufts junior Matt Rand of Cape Elizabeth was named New England Small College Athletic Conference performer of the week for the second time this season.

He was the top Division III runner at the recent New England championships at Franklin Park in Boston. He competed the 8,000-meter course in 24 minutes, 55 seconds and was sixth overall.

Bentley junior Craig Robinson of Scarborough finished 108th overall in that race in the time of 26:40.

FIELD HOCKEY

Plymouth State University sophomore forward Jackie Morin leads the 11-1 Panthers with 11 goals and four assists. She has four game-winning goals.

In addition, sophomore defender Alyssa Audet of Biddeford (Cheverus) has appeared in 12 games.

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SOCCER

Wentworth Institute of Technology freshman Tori Armishaw of Scarborough scored her first collegiate point when she got an assist in a recent 4-3 victory over UMass-Dartmouth. She has appeared in 13 games, starting 11.

Sophomore back Kelsea Miller of Bremen (Lincoln Academy) has played in eight games for the 3-11 Leopards, and junior midfielder Elizabeth Somma of Windham (Cheverus) had two goals.

TENNIS

Salve Regina University junior Shannon O’Brien of Gorham was an honorable-mention all-Commonweath Coast Conference pick in doubles. She and her partner had a 5-0 record going into the conference semifinals.

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at: mlowe@pressherald.com

Twitter: MikeLowePPH

 


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