Start off 1-2 against a tough Middlesex League
Published in the September 18, 2017 edition.
By DAN BYRNE
WAKEFIELD—The 2017 fall season has begun and the WMHS girls’ varsity soccer team has started their season out 1-2 in the first 3 games. It’s been a slow start for the Warriors, after dropping the first two games of the year, albeit to strong sides in Winchester and Lexington. Last Thursday, the Warriors got into the win column when they took out Burlington by a 3-1 score.
The performance against Burlington was more of what head coach Steph Martin was hoping to see from her team this year, as it’s weighted heavily in senior leadership bringing expectations of success.
“We have a big senior class,” Coach Martin said in a recent interview. “We have ten seniors. A lot of them have been on the team since sophomore year.”
With seniors at practically every spot on the field, there is no shortage of experience with this Warriors team, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few new faces out there.
One of the key leaders on any soccer team is the goalkeeper and in Courtney Hill, the Warriors not only have a tremendous net-minder in between the posts, but an experienced leader as well.
On Hill, Martin said, “We had a tough couple of games in the beginning, but those we’re pretty good teams, but she’s been overall just playing great. She’s such a natural athlete, she makes saves that leave you wondering ‘how did she make that?’ We’re very lucky to have such a strong keeper, very, very lucky to have Courtney in net this year.”
Sophomore Emma Lambiaso is backing Hill up in net and coach Martin heaped praise on the first year varsity player saying, “She’s another excellent goal keeper, she’s a really hard worker. She is really developing her game as a sophomore. We’re really surprised at how far she’s come since freshman year.”
In front of Hill in goal, the Warriors defense is experienced. They are led by Seniors Jill Fiore and Megan Foley at the sweeper and stopper positions.
On Fiore, Coach Martin said, “We had some of our defenders from last year graduate so it is good to have her as a returner. She really dictates whats going on in the back and is doing a great job for us.”
Foley was called on to help out last year as well, coach Martin had this to say about her senior defender, “She’s really stepped up as a player from last year, and she’s continued that this year. She’s dominating in the back and balls in the air. She had a goal vs Burlington, beautiful, from outside the 18 yard box. She’s a tough kid, wins every 50/50 ball.”
At full-back Megan Gibbons provides senior leadership, but an injury in the first game held her out of the next 2. Coach Martin wasn’t able to offer a timetable for her return just yet, but she expects Gibbons to be back and contributing before too long.
“She is a solid defensive back,” Martin said on Gibbons. “She reads the ball well, just very smart defensively.”
Senior defender Riley Parent has stepped up and helped fill the void left when Gibbons went down.
“She is an unbelievably hardworking kid. She’s done a nice job for us as well,” Coach Martin said about Parent. “She stops the ball when she needs to and she’s been distributing the ball to the midfield.”
Sophomore Abby Mondelo has won a spot in the starting 11 at left back. Coach Martin praised the first year varsity player’s intelligence saying, “She came from the freshman team up to varsity this year. She’s really made an impact. She is a very smart soccer player.”
Fellow sophomore, Sarah Melanson has made the jump to varsity as well and has helped out from the bench early on, leaving coach Martin saying, “She’s excellent. Super calm at the back, manages the back tremendously for a sophomore. She’s really good.”
Another sophomore, Grace Collins, has been asked to fill in on the defensive side, with early season injuries piling up for the Warriors.
“She’s played a little bit of outside back and stopper,” Martin said, “Since we have a couple of injuries right now she’s going to see her role increased for sure.”
After highlighting the defense, coach Martin talked about the rotation in the midfield, with the six players that switch in and out for the Warriors.
On the left side, senior captain Allie Purcell provides unquestionable quality with her pace and skill.
“She has great speed, and she’s great when we transition onto offense because no one can match it,” Coach Martin said.
Sophomore Lillian Jones has come off the bench to spell Purcell and looked good in relief early in the season.
“She was on JV last year and it’s her first year on varsity. She’s put some solid minutes in there as well. She is a great distributer of the ball. She really sees the field well.”
Opposite Purcell, Brooke Lilly takes up the right flank as another option to provide width to the formation. “She’s back and forth up the wings, she’s nonstop,” Coach Martin said,“It’s a tough position but she’s an awesome defender. She’s been making great decisions as far as her runs and passing. She has really created a lot. She had a goal outside the 18 against Burlington, it was beautiful.”
In the central midfield, seniors Hannah and Olivia Dziadyk make up the engine room. On the midfield sister duo coach Martin said, “They’re really dictating the game for us in the middle. When they’re playing well, when they’re on they’re on. They’re both super tough they’ve both really improved their footwork and distribution. They’re very vital to our team.”
Hannah found the net in the 3-1 victory over Burlington while Olivia has provided a pair of goals in the early season.
Sophomore Paige Dube and junior Caroline Hurly have been used as subs for the Dziadyks in the midfield and provided no let off when the two seniors come out.
“Caroline Hurley is just a fighter out there, she’ll run to a ball and win it, and change the vibe out on the field for sure, she’s definitely a key player on our team,” Martin said.
Her comments on Dube were equally as positive saying, “ Paige is super creative in the middle, kind of the typical center mid that changes fields, sees the field well, great passer, great distributer.”
Senior captain Hailey Lovell leads the attack for the Warriors, and she’s another player that never stops running and provides tremendous pace to put the opposing defenders under pressure.
“Shes been awesome,” Coach Martin said, highlighting the two assists she had against Burlington. “No goals yet but she’s knocking on the door,” Martin added.
“She’s one of the only players I keep in the whole game, I don’t take her out because she’s so key, so essential to our team,” the coach went on saying. “Defensively, getting back to help out, she has unmatched speed just like Allie Purcell. She can go on the attack and blow by defenders, creating opportunities for her teammates and herself. I’ll be very sad when she graduates after this season. It’ll be a big loss for our program.”
Behind Lovell, junior Christina LeBlanc provides attacking support up front. On LeBlanc, coach Martin said, “She’s another workhorse. She just has so much energy and so much fight. She’s got a great shot.”
“I’m really hoping she gets some goals this year, she’s just right on the doorstep, always involved in every play, gives you 100% everytime she’s out there.”
Junior Sarah Giunta and sophomore Juila Castellano provide options for Martin off the bench. They’re both first year varsity players that coach Martin is excited to see develop at the top level.
Every year, the Middlesex League is ultra-competitive and this year looks to be no different. With that in mind, coach Martin made it a point to praise the leadership her captains have shown since being elected.
“My captains are awesome,” She said, “They’ve been solid since they got elected last year. They’ve been looking forward to the season and they’re always reaching out to the girls, keeping them up, keeping them positive.”
Coach Martin has been impressed with their poise early on in the season saying,” It’s hard to go 0-2 at the beginning of the season, they’ve kept them focused. They’ve got the message to the girls that they’ve got to believe and trust in each other and good things are going to happen. It’s a great attribute and it makes it easy when you have captains like that.”
With the season a week into the schedule, the Warriors will hold their home opener on Monday against Watertown. Friday they host Shawsheen in a non-league game designated as the Lace Up For Pediatric Cancer game. The girls will breakout the bright yellow shoelaces to raise awareness for pediatric cancer. Coach Martin is hoping for a huge fan turnout for their home game on Friday at 3:45 p.m.
