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Season Preview: Girls’ indoor track chasing ‘little victories’

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Despite a small team, head coach Steve George is expecting the girls’ indoor track team to be competitive.

Little victories are what the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ indoor track team is striving for this winter.

“I will feel our season will be a success if our small team of 32 girls can win five to seven events each week,” said sixth-year head coach Steve George. “A small team by its nature has difficulty winning meets due to the sports scoring method of five, three and one point for first, second and third places in each event.”

Despite fielding a team of just 32 girls, George’s expectations aren’t any lower. 

“I expect our girls to rise to the occasion,” said George, whose club finished 0-5 last season. “We have a small team, but each of its members are very competitive.”

In the distance events, it will be sophomore Myah Kamperides and junior Anna Sullivan leading the way for W-H. In the mid-distance events, senior Tori Boss and junior Izzy Amado will each run the 1,000-meter run, 600-meter run and 4×400 relay. In the long sprints, seniors Ryley Hurley and senior captain Courtney Woodward could make an impact in the 300-meter dash and possibly the 600-meter run. Senior captain Samantha Perkins, junior Emma Rogers and sophomore April Keyes are expected to make an impact in the sprinting and hurdling events. 

As for departures, George knows he has his hands full with the graduations of Ally Bartlett and Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue. Bartlett scored nearly 40 percent of W-H’s points last winter, while DiMascio-Donohue competed in the indoor pentathlon. 

“I don’t know that I can replace [them],” George said. “They scored a lot of points for us last year in sprints, hurdles, jumps and relays.”

George said he believes this year’s strength will the 300-meter dash and 600-meter run, while he’d like to improve his team’s relay skills. 

“With a small squad, most of our kids are needed in two individual running events, so it leaves us a little lacking in the relays,” George said. “There is nothing more disappointing than being close in a meet going into the relays and knowing you can’t win those events.”

W-H returns to action Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 3:45 p.m. at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center against Hingham and Silver Lake. 

“What I’m really hoping for is that we can achieve a lot of little victories, and the success stories on our team result in those kids promoting this great sport and in increased participation in the coming years,” George said. 

Season Preview: High hopes for boys’ indoor track

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Boys’ indoor track is aiming to be competitive in a tough Patriot League.

There are some high hopes for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ indoor track team this winter. 

“Our primary goal every season is to recruit new athletes, and to provide a rewarding and challenging program that will keep our veterans building on their previous experience,” said first-year boys’ indoor track head coach Stephen Schlicting, who is also the head coach of the boys’ outdoor track team. 

“We hope to be competitive with the top teams in the Patriot League. I believe we have solid captains and veterans.”

Those captains are seniors Patrick Bui, Nick Hanley and Brandon Hager.

“[They’re] experienced leaders who know the are experienced leaders who know the sport and are committed to help this team get better,” Schlicting said. “They bring spirit and performances that will make us a better team. I believe we have a strong returning core of experienced track and field athletes. 

Hager was a league all-star after excelling in the 1-mile run last season for the Panthers, who finished 2-3. He’ll be pushed by reigning Patriot League cross country MVP, junior Theo Kamperides, and juniors Liam Cafferty and Chris MacDonald and Hanley. 

“We have solid depth from our distance group,” Schlicting said.

Bui is expected to score in the 300-meter dash, shot put and relays and will get a push in the 300 and relays by classmate Dyllan Burns. Sophomore Jake Caterer is the Panthers’ fastest 55-meter sprinter and will score in the high jump and long jump, according to Schilicting. Junior Graham Stewart will contribute in the hurdles, jumps and relays. 

Schlicting said he wants to see his club get stronger.

“This means using the fitness room regularly and to be committed to core strength program,” said the coach. “I want the members to work together and push each other to become better athletes and young men.”

The Panthers return to action Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 3:45 p.m. at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center against Hingham and Silver Lake. 

“I want the new members to get comfortable, learn and communicate,” Schlicting said. “I want us to stay healthy and avoid injury. I want us to figure out what events each is best at and give each member the motivation to excel.”

Season Preview: For wrestling team, ‘Our first goal is to win 8-plus matches.’

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Damari Goldsmith-Greene readies for his opponent as the bench looks on at the mat. / Courtesy photo

The wrestling team has been stuck on seven wins for the past four seasons.

In each of the past four seasons, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High wrestling team has won seven matches. So, it’s pretty obvious what it’s looking to accomplish this winter.

“Our first goal is to win eight-plus matches,” said fourth-year head coach Gary Rabinovitz.

The Panthers’ prowess on the mat should help them reach that goal.

“This year’s team strength is its past experience on the mat,” said Rabinovitz, whose club went 7-20 last season. “We may only have one or two first-year wrestlers in the starting lineup.”

Junior captain Damari Goldsmith-Greene (138 pounds) leads the way for the Panthers. One of three Panthers who wrestled in the Division 2 state tournament last winter, Goldsmith-Greene posted a team-high 29 wins and was tabbed a Patriot League All-Star.

“Damari has great deal of natural ability, speed and determination are his keys to success,” Rabinovitz said.

Senior captain Steve Brooks, who was hampered by an injury last season, was a state qualifier at 152 pounds. This season, he bumps up to the 160-pound weight class.

“Steve had a very good junior season and the key to his success is his legs,” Rabinovitz said. “Steve is a very good leg wrestler and can pin just about anyone with his favorite move. Steve worked very hard in the offseason.”

Senior Bethany Ralph also captains W-H and is looking to build off of a second-place finish at 120 pounds in the first-ever girls’ state tournament last season.

“Bethany has worked very hard in the offseason and it will be the key to her quest for a state championship,” Rabinovitz said.

Freshmen Braden Kain (132 pounds) and Maddox Colcough (195 pounds), juniors Myles McInnis (126 pounds) and Aiden O’Brien (132 pounds) and sophomore Pat Collett (152 pounds) will also be key to W-H’s success this season.

W-H will be back on the mat Saturday, Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. when it hosts the Whitman-Hanson Tournament.

“I think we are going to surprise a lot of teams this year and be very competitive all season long,” Rabinovitz said.

Season Preview: Gymnastics trending in the right direction

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The gymnastics team. / Courtesy photo

First-year head coach Alison Vance is looking to grow the gymnastics program.

For the Whitman-Hanson Regional High gymnastics team, there are a few things it wants to accomplish this winter.

“Our goal this season is to continue to grow our program, familiarize ourselves with the complex rules of high school gymnastics and have fun while doing it,” said first-year head coach Alison Vance, who inherits a club that finished 2-13 last season. “If we sprinkle in a few wins here or there, we will be thrilled.”

Vance has already begun chipping away at those goals. After Middleboro decided to split from it co-op with W-H, there was some fear that W-H wouldn’t be able to field a team after boasting just six girls last winter, only four of whom were set to return. However, after a grassroots push on social media and through word of mouth to spread knowledge about the program, 10 girls turned out for the team.

Senior captain Sarah Bombardier keys the Panthers this winter. She led the team with a 31.69 all-around meet average last season.

“We anticipate she will be [our high scorer again],” Vance said. “She is a former competitive gymnast who isn’t afraid to try new skills. She has a lot of natural gymnastics talent. 

Junior Madison Scaccia also captains the team.

“Madison will compete on floor, vault and beam again this year,” Vance said. “She has been working hard to make her routines more competitive.”

Freshman Riley Getchell and junior Savannah Poirier, who captained the cheerleading team
this fall, should also contribute on a nightly basis.

Vance said one of the tweaks she has made this year is rotating the all-around positions, which each team is allowed two at each meet.

“Generally, teams use the same two girls to fill those roles,” Vance said. “However, this year we have four girls that could potentially compete all-around. We are planning to switch it up from time to time to see if that helps improve our scores.”

Vance said regardless of how her team fares, her expectations won’t change.

“I expect the girls to always give 100 percent,” she said. “I expect them to be respectful of myself, their teammates and their competitors. I expect them to be positive and proud of their accomplishments, big or small.”

The Panthers are back in action Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. with a meet against Hingham and Marshfield at Massachusetts Gymnastics Center in Pembroke.

“I want to see these girls continue to work hard to upgrade their skills,” Vance said. “I want them to shake off the nerves of their first meet and come back from winter break ready to go.”

Season Preview: New beginning for girls’ basketball

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Senior captain Olivia Martin dribbles the ball during the Panthers’ home opener. / Photo by: Sue Moss

First-year head coach Mike Costa is stressing balance this season.

It’s a new beginning for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ basketball team.

After six years and four tournament appearances under Jenna Olem, Mike Costa enters his first season at the helm of the Panthers.

“It’s been an adjustment having a new coach and having some younger players coming up, installing a new system and a new defense,” Costa said. “They’re picking it up.”

The Panthers, who fell to Mansfield, 45-41, in the first round of the Div. 1 South tournament last season, will be tasked with making up for the production of Kathryn Dunn. A two-year captain, now playing at Curry College, she paced W-H in points (11.5), rebounds (8.5) and assists (3.5) per game. Costa said it will be about balance this season.

“We have a lot of talented girls,” he said. “There’s no clear-cut girl that is more talented than anyone else. It’s strength in numbers, almost.”

Along with Dunn, now-senior Brittany Gacicia was a league all-star and provides the Panthers with their most returning production, after dumping in 8.5 ppg and hauling down 7.4 rpg last season.

“Brittany has looked good,” Costa said. “You got to kind of figure out where she likes the ball. She is a really good post up player, she scores around the basket, but she has also improved her jump shot. We have some things in mind for her, so hopefully she has a big year for us.”

Senior Olivia Martin (6.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg last season) captains the Panthers and will also be relied upon heavily.

“Liv is very positive and she tries to pick her teammates up in every drill that we do,” Costa said. “She is shooting the ball really well, too.”

Juniors Reese Codero, Rylie Harlow and sophomores Lauren Dunn, Abby Martin and Megan Stone should contribute on both ends of the court.

“I’m sure the lineups are going to vary from game-to-game,” Costa explained. “We have some really good size and they just like to compete. On nights where we have a tough time shooting, our effort and energy are going to help us a lot.”

And with a new coach, comes a new scheme.

“In terms of the stuff that I’m used to running on the boys’ side, it’s more pace and space and dribble drive,” he said. “It’s kind of been a learning curve for myself, and the girls aren’t really used to running this type of system that we’re trying to put in.

“Defensively, we’re going to play tough, hard-nosed man-to-man. We can pretty much play with anybody, we’ve got the size and we’ve got the athleticism. We can go big, we can go small, we can trap and hopefully we can press with anybody. There’s a lot of flexibility on the defensive end, it’s exciting.”

The Panthers are back on the court Friday, Dec. 20 when they host league foe Plymouth North at 5 p.m.

“We’re probably going to take our bumps the first couple of games, but as long as we defend well, we give good effort and energy and we rebound well, we’ll be pretty good,” Costa said. “I think we’ll be tough to beat.”

Season Preview: Boys’ basketball ahead of the game

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The Panthers bench during a scrimmage against Sandwich. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers return most of their production from last season’s 18-7 club.

For Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball head coach Bob Rodgers, it’s like night and day going into this season compared to last winter.

Last year, the Panthers were tasked with finding a new starting five. This season, they return all of their key pieces from a Div. 2 South semifinals run.

“As a coach, it’s really about staying out of their way and letting them be as good as they are,” said Rodgers, who enters his 20th year at the helm of the boys’ basketball program.

Rodgers said with more experience comes heightened expectations.

“Now we’re veterans, most of the league knows most of the guys on the team — they know who they are and what they can do,” said Rodgers, whose team has qualified for the tournament for 11 straight seasons. “It’s a lot of fun because we’re way further ahead than we ordinarily would be this time of year so a lot of the stuff we’re doing is mostly reviewing. It’s great when you have a veteran team.”

Rodgers said while his starting five is likely going to fluctuate throughout the season, there are a few players almost set in stone, beginning with senior captain Stevie Kelly. The team’s returning MVP, he will once again man the point after averaging about 8.3 ppg and over 130 assists last season.

“Stevie Kelly is tough as nails and is one of the best competitors I’ve ever coached, he just competes hard all the time,” Rodgers said. “His basketball skill level has improved immensely. He shoots it really well and he’s a great passer.”

A 6-foot-7 swingman, senior captain Ben Rice will start after averaging close to 12 ppg and sinking close to 50 three-pointers last season.

“Ben is a great kid to coach, who has such a great demeanor,” Rodgers said. “Everyone on the team loves him. He can shoot it, he’s getting better diving the ball to the whole, he can rebound it and I think defensively he can make a difference with how long he is. He’s a weapon.”

Junior Cole LeVangie is also a weapon with an efficient inside and outside game for the Panthers.

“All Cole LeVangie has done it gotten better,” Rodgers said. “He’s going to be in the mix to start.”

While Rodgers said he expects his club to shoot the ball well from beyond the arc again this season, his team’s strength isn’t something that’s going to be found on the stat sheet.

“They all (the players) genuinely care about each other, they genuinely want their teammates to have success,” said the coach. “They can push each other in practice without other guys getting offended and they can play hard-nosed in practice without somebody feeling like they’re trying to show them up. That intangible of a team’s character, as I look at all the teams I’ve coached over my 30 years of coaching, I always look back and say, ‘Where were we on the character scale?’

“The teams that were high on the character scale always achieved higher than I thought they could. They’ve exceed what they can be. If this team achieve what they can be, sky’s the limit because just what they can be is really good.”

The Panthers return to the court Friday, Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m. on the home against Plymouth North.

“Nothing is ever guaranteed in high school basketball,” Rodgers said. “It’s not played on paper, it’s played on the court. On paper, I like what we are, but we got to go play it on the court.”

Season Preview: Senior-laden boys’ hockey team returns the bulk of its core

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Goalie Bobby Siders in the Panthers’ season opener against Pembroke. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The boys’ hockey team is looking to be even better than last season’s tournament team.

There seems to be a different feeling surrounding the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team entering this season than in years past.

The Panthers are coming off their first playoff appearance since 2013 and return a bulk of their core, putting them in prime position to make another run to the postseason.

“The goal is to try to be as competitive — if not even more competitive — than the previous year,” said head coach Chris Googins, who enters his 10th season overall leading the Panthers. “So, let’s try to close out some of those games that we maybe couldn’t close out or couldn’t play three periods, let‘s try to do that and I think good things will happen. Overall, you need to play your 16th game like your third game. Just be consistent.”

The Panthers welcome back five of their top six forwards, all three goaltenders and a some key defensemen, which should help them with that consistency.

Senior Chris Stoddard will don the C on his jersey and center the first line this season, on the heels a 23-point (13 goals, 10 assists) junior campaign.

“He played a high level in the offseason and had a really good fall,” Googins said. “He’s just elevated his game to another level, in regards to his hockey IQ — his decision making. I expect big things out of him.”

The Panthers’ leading scorer with 10 goals and 14 assists last winter, senior assistant captain Adam Solari is also back in the fold on the first line.

“Another kid who worked so hard in the offseason and still has a very bright and optimistic senior year,” Googins said. “I think he can have a breakout year.”

Senior Eddie Collins rounds out the top line at left wing.

“He had a great offseason,” Googins said. “I expect big things from him, too.”

Googins pointed to his club’s depth last season and his ability to roll out three lines as a key reason it was able to sustain its level of play. He said he fully expects to be able to do the same this season with a third line likely featuring juniors Zach Either and Josh Pike along with freshman Matt Solari.

The second line will be made up of senior Calvin Cooper centering classmate John Hagan and sophomore John Ward, the Panthers’ only top six forward who is not a senior.

“They could be the difference, if they can just really show off some of their offensive abilities and take care of business in their own end,” Googins said. “I think we could really be in good shape. There’s some talent there.”

There’s also some talent in net, where they return both junior Bobby Siders and sophomore Erik Dean. Siders saw a majority of the action last winter and flourished, holding Division 1 state champion Duxbury to three goals over six periods of action and winning consecutive do-or-die games down the stretch. But Googins said he’s like what he’s seen from Dean early on, and the job between the pipes may be fluid throughout the year.

“I’m not ruling out every other game or maybe the hot hand staying in there,” Googins said. “Either one could happen.”

Senior assistant captain Reed Watson, juniors Jack Allen, Mike Savicke, Kevin Willis and sophomore Sean Doucette form a strong nucleus on the blue line.

“Having a good core at each position will hopefully make us competitive every night,” Googins said. “I don’t think we have a major weakness on our team. I think we have a good, solid base at every position.”

Googins said the Panthers’ strength this winter is their leadership.

“Even though there’s three captains, I consider there to be at least five to seven captains,” Googins said. “There’s a number of kids I could lean on to take a role on the team and run with it.”

As for departures, the graduations of Patriot League All-Stars Ed Scriven (11 goals, 12 assists last season) and Owen Manning (six goals, 14 assists last season) leave some holes.

“Along with their solid numbers and the minutes, they were just tremendously great competitors and leaders,” Googins said.

W-H is back in action Saturday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. against Patriot League foe Duxbury at The Bog Ice Arena in Kingston.

“I want to see them adapt to the new systems, but at the same token, we have to play three periods, you can’t play two,” Googins said. “There’s no give-me night in the Patriot League. You might not win every game, but you have to say that you went out there and tried 45 minutes.”

Season Preview: ‘Fed up with losing,’ WHSL searching for winning ways

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W-H captain Emily McDonald. / Photo by: Sue Moss

WHSL is searching a signature win to get it kick-started.

Fifth-year Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake high school girls’ hockey head coach Kevin Marani is a firm believer that winning is contagious.

However, it’s something his squad has done little of over the past two seasons, posting just six victories combined. As WHSL heads into this winter, Marani said he once again believes his squad has the talent to be successful, it’s just about going out and executing.

“They’ve lost enough and they’re fed up,” said Marani, who guided the Panthers to back-to-back tournament appearances in his first two seasons. “They know that they’re a good team, and they know that they’re good players. We just need that signature win — that one signature win that we know we can do. And once that happens — winning is contagious.”

Marani said winning is also mentality he’s constantly trying to instill in his players.

“It’s truly just believing in yourself, like, ‘OK, we’re down a goal, but we’ve been here before, we’re going to win this game,’” he explained. “Not, ‘Oh boy, we’ve been here before, we’re here again, we’re going to lose again.’”

On the ice, it’s about perfecting the basics.

“We work on practice every single practice for 15 minutes of practice and it’s fundamentals, some days they got it, some days they don’t,” Marani explained.

It starts with commitment.

“We made a big thing at the end of last season that we need every girl committed,” Marani said. “Even when we don’t practice, give us 15 to 20 minutes of shooting balls or hockey pucks against the net or a wall or whatever and passing and stick handling. That’s something that I challenged them with.”

Marani said that so far he’s been impressed with what he’s seen.

“We’ve 100 percent seen the hard work they’ve put on in the offseason,” he said. “Now it’s just about execution.”

Senior captain Alyssa Murphy (Kingston) had no problem with execution last season pacing WHSL with 27 goals and 15 assists en route to league all-star status. She’s once again going to be relied upon to shoulder the load on offense. She’ll serve on the first line, alongside junior co-captain Emily McDonald (Whitman) and sophomore Ellie Grady (Kingston).

“Alyssa is everything you want to coach,” Marani said. “Talent-wise, she is right up there with the best in our league. She is a good kid and great leader. She works her butt off and is one of the hardest working kids we have on the team.“

McDonald potted six goals and dished out nine assists last winter.

“She is such a good kid,” Marani said. “She is a great leader and she’s got great skill. She’s worked on her shot, she’s worked on her shot. We’re looking from big things from Emily. I think she’s going to have a breakthrough season.”

Sophomores Abby Powers and Lilly Ulvila, both of whom are from Kingston, combined for 10 goals and 11 assists last winter and have improved immensely, according to Marani.

Junior Caleigh Tompkins (Kingston) anchor the blue line with freshman Kendyl Peterson (Kingston).

Peterson is one of a few freshmen that are expected to contribute right away. Shay Kelleher and Casandra Martin will see significant ice time at forward.

Junior Kat Gilbert (Halifax) returns in net after turning away 481 shots last season.

“She is motivated, into it and you can see the difference,” Marani said. “She seems like she is very concentrated. When she is engaged, she is one of the best goalies in our league.”

Marani is setting the bar once again this season.

“This is probably the deepest team I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Marani said. “If we don’t make the state tournament this year, it would be a disappointment. I expect 100 percent to make the state tournament.”

WHSL returns to the ice Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7:45 p.m. against Bishop Stang at Rockland Ice Rink.

“I’m looking forward to this season,” said the coach. “We’re so close. I’m just hoping that everything clicks. We need that one signature win to get that confidence so the girls know we’re good.”

Season Preview: New coach, new expectations for girls’ volleyball team

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Photo by: Sue Moss

The girls’ volleyball team is looking to return to the tournament.

It’s been three years since the girls’ volleyball team at Whitman-Hanson Regional High has made it to the tournament.

This season’s group wants to change that, and first-year head coach Samantha Richner is up for the challenge. A 2013 W-H alum, Richner played four years for the Panthers.

“[Coaching] is something I have always wanted to do, and to do it in the program I was once a part makes it even more special,” Richner said. “I think I bring a different energy to the team than there was in past years.”

Richner inherited a program on the up, doubling its win total from four to eight last fall under then-head coach Ashley Balbian.

“My main message to the girls is that it is up to them what they get out of this season,” Richner said. “I believe this team has the talent and the potential to go far. I try and help them realize that, and to also realize that they need to put in the appropriate and required time and effort to get the results they want.”

Seniors Lexi Connolly and Olivia Martin return as captains to anchor the club, while classmate Maya Faich also serves as captain. Richner said they’ve made her transition seamless.

“To prepare myself for the season, I frequently reached out to the captains, who have been amazing, to see where the program was at, what they wanted to change, what they thought should stay the same,” Richner said. “I realize how important this sport is to these girls.”

Connolly, a four-year varsity player, who posted 103 digs and played in all 52 sets last season, starts at outside hitter and can also play the back row.

“Lexi is a crucial part of our team; she is such a well-rounded player,” Richner said. “Lexi is someone I know I can count on the get the job done, and I am sure the team feels the same way.”

A three-year varsity player, Olivia Martin (41 sets played last season) starts at right side hitter.

“Liv is a great player to have on the team and because of her we are able to have three strong front row hitters on the court at the same time; which is a huge advantage,” Richner said.

Faich, who racked up 81 digs last autumn, takes over at libero following the graduation of Nicole Scott.

“Maya is willing to do about anything to get a ball; she is such a selfless player,” Richner said. “Maya is an athlete who puts in the work year round, and she is one of our strongest players because of it.”

Sophomore hitters Abby Martin and Lily Welch, junior setters Caileen Hurley (119 assists last season) and Sophia Berardinelli and senior hitter Marissa Connell will also be pivotal the team’s success this season.

And Richner said in order to obtain success, it starts with having the right attitude.

“You have to have a competitive mentality,” said the coach. “You also have to have a learning mentality; we have to be able to learn and grow from or mistakes to make ourselves better.”

The Panthers return to the court Friday, Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. at Plymouth South.

“Our goal this season it to make it tournament,” Richner said. “I met with the captains last spring and they expressed to me that this was their goal for this season. I believe, without a doubt, that we have the talent to do that. For right now, our focus is to fine-tune our skills, and then we will take it from there.”

 

*This story will run in the Express’ print edition on Thursday, Sept. 26. 

Season Preview: For field hockey team, it’s about acting like you’ve been there 

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The team is introduced before its game against Pembroke. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers will try to get their offense going this season.

There’s no magic recipe for fixing the Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey team’s offensive woes.  

So, sixth-year W-H head coach Todd Humphrey is instituting an “act-like-you’ve-been-there approach.” 

 “Our forwards and midfielders need to be more poised when they shoot the ball when they are in the offensive zone,” said Humphrey, whose team finished 2-10-6 last fall, while scoring just 14 goals. “They also need to be the first to rebounds for second opportunities.” 

The Panthers’ inability to create much of anything in transition was a major reason for their struggles on offense. This fall, senior captain Victoria Ryan is asked to quarterback the transition game for her post at left defender.  

“She will need the help of her teammates,” Humphrey said. “Victoria comes up with ideas on how to improve the team and the program as a whole. She is willing to do anything on and off the field to support the program.” 

The Panthers’ also return their two leading goal scorers from last season – juniors Lauren Clark (captain) and Delanie MacDonald – so that should help expedite the growth of the offense. MacDonald netted a team-high five goals, while Clark (starting left-center forward) poked home three last season.  

“Lauren Clark is a speedy ball-handler and has a high-powered shot,” Humphrey explained. “She is truly passionate about field hockey and cares deeply about the program.” 

“Delanie is great at taking advantage of opportunities in the offensive zone. She is quick at finding seams to the net and taking advantage of them.” 

Senior Robin Goyette flanks Clark to her left as the starting left wing, while sophomore Lauren Dunn starts at right-center forward and senior captain Maddy Tassey anchors the right wing. 

The midfield is occupied by sophomore Joli Flamos (left midfielder), Rosie MacKinnon (center midfielder) and Mary Kate Ryan (right midfielder). All factor in heavily to the Panthers’ strength – their speed.  

“Our forwards and midfielders are fast,” said the coach. “We like to move the ball as quick as we possibly can through the neutral zone to give ourselves as many scoring chances as possible.” 

In net, the Panthers return junior Madi Savicke, who posted a sparkling 1.67 goals against average last fall.   

“She played exceptionally well for us last year,” Humphrey said. “She and the new-look defense are looking to gel early so they can lock down opposing offenses early in the season.” 

After splitting time on the right side last year, juniors Noelle Cornetta and Skylar Leonard are now starters. Cornetta’s moved to center defender, while Leonard remains at right defender. Both have their work cut out for them, with the graduations of defenders Kathryn Dunn and Olivia Sheehan (now playing at Bridgewater State University), the team’s two lone league all-stars last season. 

“Noelle and Skylar offer experience at the defensive position,” Humphrey said. “They both are quite good at playing in front of Madi.” 

The Panthers are back on the field Thursday, Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. on the road with a league game against Silver Lake.  

“I am looking forward to my players getting better at working together on the field,” Humphrey said. “The Patriot League is made up very talented teams, and we are going to need to be a unified front if we are going to push to the top of the standings.”