Boretti finds his scoring touch

Nicholas Boretti has three game-winning goals. (EASTERN CONNECTICUT STATE)

Marshfield High graduate Nicholas Boretti has matured into a major contributor for the Eastern Connecticut State men's soccer team.

The sophomore scored five goals and totaled 12 points to lead Eastern Connecticut to a 7-5-2 record. Boretti, a 6-foot-2-inch, 145-pound midfielder, netted four goals in a stretch of three games, including a game-winner in a 3-2, nonconference victory over Husson on Sunday.

Boretti converted the goal off of a corner kick from James Picarella, breaking a 2-2 tie late in the second half.

Last season, as a freshman, Boretti did not score in the 15 games in which he played. This season, he is second on the team, and three of his goals have been game-winners.

Eastern Connecticut will host Rhode Island College at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Richard Durham of Braintree was one of 85 students in the nation to receive a USTA Tennis and Education Foundation Scholarship.

A freshman at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., Durham joined Sarah Kugler of Brewster as the two New England recipients of the award presented by MassMutual.

The award recognizes high school seniors for academic excellence, outstanding community service, and participation in a USTA or other organized tennis programs. The honor included $500 to $15,000 in scholarship money to winners from 16 US regions and the Caribbean.

Durham, a 2007 Braintree High graduate, grew up playing tennis around the area. He was a member of the Weymouth Club's Tournament Training Program from the time he was 10 years old. As a high school senior, he advanced to the third round of the MIAA state spring tournament.

Durham also excelled academically, graduating seventh in a class of 332, and he was a member of the National Honor Society.

As the high school sports fall season enters its second half, teams on the edge of qualification for the postseason are running out of time.

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association postseason dates are out, and boys' golf will be the first to begin the postseason.

The boys' golf Division 1 South Sectional will be Monday at Glen Ellen Country Club in Millis. The Division 2 South Sectional will be held at the Easton Country Club, and Norton Country Club will host the Division 3 South Sectional.

Junior Heather Haggerty of Hanover was part of the Bentley women's tennis team's strong fall season, which ended on Sunday.

Against American International last week, Haggerty teamed with Marcia Gilbride to win their No. 2 doubles match, 8-0. The win was part of Bentley's 8-1, Northeast-10 Conference victory.

Haggerty, a Hanover High graduate, had six doubles victories this season and was 7-9 overall.

The Falcons won five consecutive matches after beginning the season with a 7-2 loss to Brandeis. Saint Michael's snapped that streak on Oct. 14, handing Bentley its first conference loss of the season, 5-4.

Freshman Emily Werner of Scituate is also on the team.

Saint Anselm College goalkeeper Scott Johnson of Plymouth showed off his skills in a 2-1 win against Bentley last week. Johnson had three saves.

Johnson, who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds, has started 12 of 13 games this season, recording a 1.97 goals-against average. Saint Anselm has a 5-6-1 record.

Saint Anselm's next match will be a Northeast-10 game against Le Moyne Saturday in Syracuse, N.Y.

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com.