Last year the Walpole Girls Soccer Team defied all odds with the best season they have had in many years. The question is can they keep it going? After making it into tournament last year for the first time in five years (though they lost to Notre Dame Academy in the first round), the expectations are set high for this year. One of the Rebels strenghts last year was they had a strong senior class setting the examples for the underclassmen. However this year the Rebels only have five seniors compared to last years twelve. The Rebels will have to fill eight starting positions that were held by last year’s seniors, especially on defense. The Rebels graduated four starting defenseman and one goalie. This means that some underclassmen have to step up.
Only in her second year as varsity Head Coach, Erin Carnes said, “One strength the team had in the past was the defense and the fact that it was made up of a core group of players that I will hate to see go. But, [this]will give the younger players the opportunity to step up and become leaders early on.”
At the same time the Rebels are looking forward to improving their record from last year of 12-6-1. A goal for this years Rebels is to not only to contend for the Bay State League Title but to get more than one win in tournament. Carnes said, “My expectations are to come into the season ready to go from the start.” One of the Rebels most obvious strengths is their fitness. Senior Captains Ella McMackin and Seana Cofsky agreed, “We conditioned hard every day, which was a huge change from previous years, and it really showed on the field [last year]. I think that is where most of our success came and will continue to come from.” Senior Captain McMackin led by example by leading the team in scoring and being selected to the First Team All-Star team. Carnes said “Returning a leading scorer is not something that other Bay State teams can say”. Along with their leading scorer returning, the Rebels have other key attacks returning including junior starter Lauren Reagan and last years only freshman Abby McMackin. The Walpole Soccer Team has some big shoes to fill but if they can manage that then they can improve their record from last year and make a deep run into the playoffs.
