McCann's Dowling, Drury's Racette Recognized

The Steeple City is Soccer City this week as McCann Tech’s Aimee Dowling and Drury’s Reece Racette are celebrated for their exploits on the pitch.

 

Racette started the week with a two-goal, one-assist performance in a 4-1 win over Hoosac Valley that snapped a long losing streak to the rival Hurricanes and secured the Berkshire County South Division championship -- and it is a tossup which was more important for the seniors in the Drury program.

 

Racette, a sophomore, is a big reason Drury is enjoying a soccer renaissance. He has 16 goals and seven assists, second on the team only to Sept. 12 AOTW Jon Boland.

 

The Blue Devils are 13-1-2 after suffering their first loss of the season this week at defending state champion Monson.

 

Drury has two more regular season games -- against Mount Everett and Wahconah -- before learning next week who its first round opponent will be in the Western Massachusetts tournament.

 

Dowling and the McCann Tech girls also are tournament bound with an 11-5 record and two games left starting with Monday’s Senior Day game against Renaissance.

 

The junior Dowling provided this week’s biggest North County soccer highlight when she notched her 100th career point at Westfield Tech. She reached the milestone with her 24th goal of the season and third point of a 4-1 McCann win.

 

Aimee is the daughter of longtime McCann coach Mike Dowling. As such, she has been a fixture around the Hornets’ program long before she first donned the uniform.

 

Her knowledge of the program and those came before made Thursday’s accomplishment a little more special.

 

“This is one of my biggest accomplishments,” she said. “I’ve been playing soccer since I was really little, and I’ve actually been coming to McCann practices since I could walk. And I’ve been practicing with the girls. Being able to do this and perform means a lot.

 

“I’ve idolized some 100-point scorers and watched them.”

 

And now, she’s joined them.

 

iBerkshires.com's Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Bedard Bros. Auto Sales of Cheshire.