New day arrives as Sorrenti takes reigns as coach
Published December 7, 2018
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—Coming off the best season in the history of their young program, the Melrose High girls’ varsity hockey team has certainly risen in rank in the state and division, yet last season graduated a core group of seniors who left big skates to fill.
Fortunately, Melrose returns with experienced players who are used to high-pressure games, including their goalie and leading scorer. So expect Melrose to be in the mix this season as they focus on filling defensive needs.
They also return with a new coach. Frank Sorrenti takes over the reigns this year, becoming just the second coach in the program’s existence, following the departure of coach Sam Tetreau. The Melrose resident and longtime President of Melrose Youth Hockey was the natural choice for the role, given his familiarity with the program, its players and their place in Melrose history.
“I’m honored to be coach of this program,” he says. “Almost all of these girls I have coached from back in the Pee Wee days, and it makes this an easy transition, a way to hit the ground running, so to speak.”
THE LEAGUE Champ Lady Raider hockey team returns to the ice on Dec. 12. (file photo)
Last year was a pretty special one for Melrose. They possessed a jaw-dropping 16-3-1 record, won the Middlesex Freedom League and were seeded #6 in an impossibly-crowded Div. 1 North field of thirty teams. They enjoyed a playoff win before falling 4-3 to Andover in quarterfinals. That loss may have stung, but it gave the players valuable tools needed for growth this season.
Two Lady Raiders who come back with playoff experience are senior captains Mairead Clark and Linnea Kelley, a duo Sorrenti refers to as, “incredible leaders.”
Returning too is star freshman Emily Crovo, who led the team in scoring last season as an eighth-grader. One year wiser, expect Crovo to be a force as she makes a real name for herself in the Middlesex League.
“Emily has it all, she’s even stronger than last year,” reports Sorrenti. “She has great instincts and makes other players around her better. She’s going to be a huge part of what we’re trying to do. If she has to carry the team on her back, she’s up to it.”
Fortunately, she will have a lot of help offensively. Expect to see big contributions from Emma Lynch Galvin, captains Linnea Kelly and Mairead Clark, Maggie Doyle and Maggie O’Donnell. The coach notes the attributes of each. “Emma is speedy and smart; Linna is an intelligent player with a long reach; Maggie O’Donnell takes great shots and will be counted on as a leader, and Maggie Doyle is a tough player and hard worker.”
Joining the team this year are eighth graders Mckenzie Cerrato and Maggie Pierce. Sorrenti is excited about the potential of both. “Maggie – our wing – is smooth and is playing well with our veterans and Mckenzie has really impressed us with her overall play and instincts.” Other young forwards include Itia Figueria and Madison Tobin.
So while Melrose has some weapons on offense, skates need to be filled after losing an incredible defensive line from 2018. But expect players such as Sydney Kroon, Marie Maher, Hannah Connolly and Sofia Gukelberger to fill that need. Says the coach, “This is an area that we need to pick up on and we really encourage this team, our underclassmen especially, to take this role and seize it.”
At goalie, senior Courtney O’Connor is now at the peak of her high school career, and she will have double down to help a rebuilt defensive line. “Courtney has done a great job,” says Sorrenti. “Back in her Pee Wee days she wasn’t a goalie, but she is key to this team now. Courtney has to work extra hard now, but I think she can do it.”
While the Middlesex League is (as usual) stacked with talent – especially in the Large Division where Woburn, Reading and Belmont are sure to be competitive – Melrose could very easily do well in the Freedom League, with the hopes they can re-capture their title. Last year, Stoneham proved tricky and Burlington can always be considered a threat. But Melrose will get a taste of the competition when their season opens on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 4:00 p.m. at Lexington. Their home opener is Saturday, Dec. 15 against Arlington at noon at Flynn Rink.
As Sorrenti embarks in this new journey, there is no room for anything but optimism. “I couldn’t be happier to represent Melrose. This team wants to get better every day, and they have the talent and motivation to do it, and when you have that, the sky is the limit.”
