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Season Preview: Experience, leadership key for W-H cheerleading team

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GIVING A CHEER: Children in kindergarten through grade eight joined the W-H Cheerleading team in a Panther Club Clinic on Friday, Sept. 14, culminating in a chance to cheer for the football team under the Friday Night Lights. / Photo by: Sue Moss

All eyes are zeroed in on state title No. 14.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High cheerleaders are back on the mats and in full force.

Forty kids turned out to tryouts in late August, enough for first-year head coach Alyssa Hayes, who took over the team on a temporary basis in February, before being named to the position full time in April, to fulfill her goal of forming a junior varsity team.

“This is the first time in a long time that we’ve had a JV team, which coach Keryn Cordo and I are so excited about,” said Hayes, a 2012 W-H graduate. “Having two solid teams again would be ideal.”

Decorated seniors Anna Franklin and Shelby Newcomb captain the varsity team alongside junior Ryley Hurley.

“They, honestly, the three of them are the best of friends, and that’s how they treat the rest of the team,” Hayes said.

The trio doesn’t just guide the team on the mats, but through the halls as well.

“We’ve got a lot of new freshmen and even [on the] first day of school, I saw them walking the freshmen around,” Hayes said. “They’re just going to lead this team 24/7, not just at practice.”

Hayes is expecting the same positive attitudes to push the Panthers forward this fall that did last winter, which culminated in state title No. 13.

“They seem to all really get along and love each other, which is something you usually have to build up to,” Hayes said.

The Panthers have seven returnees from that title winning team. In addition to their three captains, senior Maddy Anderson, junior Kaylee Diehl, and sophomores Olivia McCarthy and Savannah Po- irier are all back.

“I’m so excited,” Hayes said. “I can’t wait to get going. We already have our competition schedules ready, so I can’t wait to get started. I feel like I’ve been waiting for the beginning of the season for a while.”

And, first up on that competition schedule is the Oliver Ames Invitational on Sunday, Oct. 21. Six days later –on Oct. 27 – will be the Braintree Invitational.

“Now it’s just let’s start practicing those skills,” Hayes said. “You get the routine in August, so we’re trying to get some reps in and build up to states in November.”

Then there was one: Girls’ soccer only remaining unbeaten team through Week 3

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Girls’ soccer roars through Week 3 action.

The success of the girls’ soccer team at Whitman-Hanson Regional High cannot be overlooked.

Dave Floeck’s club, which hasn’t had a losing season since 1999, is off to another hot start.

Here’s a look at all the Week 3 action.

Boys’ cross country (1-2) dropped an 18-45 decision to Duxbury on Thursday, Sept. 20. Panthers sophomore Theo Kamperides finished third, sandwiched in between a heap of Dragons, with a time of 17:21.

Girls’ cross country (0-3) dropped its race against Duxbury, 16-43, Thursday, Sept. 20. Junior Tori Boss paced the Panthers with fifth-place finish at 21:43.

Field hockey (2-2-2) fell to Hingham. 3-0, Monday, Sept. 17. …… On Thursday, the girls were shut out by Pembroke, 1-0.

Football (2-1) suffered a 22-13 setback at the hands of Hingham on Friday, Sept. 21. The Panthers struck first on a 4-yard TD run from Ethan Phelps in the second quarter, but Hingham scored the next 15 to claim the lead and never looked back. Senior captain Rian Schwede had three catches for 41 yards and a TD for W-H.

Golf (4-1) defeated Plymouth North, 232-239, Wednesday, Sept. 19. Junior Ian Brown shot a 3-over-par 38, while senior captain Owen Manning and junior Matt Korzec both shot 4-over-par. …… On Friday, it was W-H that came out on the losing end of a close one, falling to Silver Lake, 250-252. Manning carded a 2-over-par 38 and Brown shot a 3-over-par in the loss.

Boys’ soccer (2-1-1) had its Tuesday, Sept. 18 game against Duxbury postponed, before it rallied for three goals in a 12-minute span to tie Hanover, 3-3, Friday. Down 3-0, junior Kyle O’Connor crashed the net and drilled home a Nolan Clack rebound. Junior captain Jason Brodeur scored in the 65th minute to bring W-H within one and three minutes later, freshman Alex Chichlowski scored the equalizer.

Girls’ soccer (4-0) also had its Tuesday, Sept. 18 game against Duxbury postponed. On Friday, – its first game in a week – it showed little signs of rust, erupting for five second-half goals to down Hanover, 5-1. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, sophomore Alexis Billings opened the second with a goal to knot the score and freshman Kelsee Wozniak followed with a pair of goals. Freshmen Olivia Borgen and Nora Manning also had tallies in the win. Junior Riley Bina and Manning had assists. The defense was led by senior captains Sammy Smith and Olivia Johnson, as well as juniors Samantha Perkins, Erin Wood and Courtney Woodward. Sophomore Reese Codero picked up the win in net.

Girls’ volleyball (2-5) opened the week with a 3-2 victory over Hanover on Monday, Sept. 17. The set scores were: 25-16 (W-H), 25-21 (Hanover), 25-19 (W-H), 25-11 (Hanover) and 15-12 (W-H). The Panthers were led by 17 kills from junior middle hitter Ella Sweeney, 20 digs from senior captain and libero Nicole Scott and 14 assists from senior setter Kylie Gervasio. … … The next day, W-H was swept by Duxbury, 3-0. Set scores were: 25-17, 2514 and 25-15. …… On Friday, Quincy defeated W-H, 3-0, with set scores of 25-16, 25-17 and 25-17.

*Express weekly roundups consist of games from Monday to Saturday. 

Clack clicking for W-H boys’ soccer

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Clack against Pembroke this season. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Through the Panthers’ first three games, senior midfielder Nolan Clack has two goals and two assists.

Senior midfielder Nolan Clack has been a man on a mission this season for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ soccer team.

It took the four-year varsity player just two games to match his goal total (two) and halve his assist total (four) from last fall. In the Panthers’ season opener, Clack racked up two assists in a 2-1 victory over defending Div. 4 South champion Cohasset, 2-1. His first came off a corner kick to junior captain Jason Broduer and other came toward the end of the first half when he fed sophomore Brad Pelissier, who found the back of the net.

Two days later, Clack was the one finding the back of the net – not once, but twice – in a 6-1 triumph over Rockland. His first tally came five minutes in to set the tone, putting W-H up 1-0. With 15 minutes left in the opening frame, Clack scored again to make it 4-0.

“What he did in the first half against Cohasset and the first again against Rockland, he made us a better team because of his play,” W-H boys’ soccer head coach Dave Leahy explained.

PUTTING IN THE WORK

Clack’s early success was preceded by a summer centered around soccer. After back-to-back tough seasons in 2015 (4-14) and 2016 (1-16), both of which Clack were a part of, he and the Panthers got a taste of success last fall in what was their first season under Leahy. Their win total rose by 10 and they made the playoffs for the first time in three years. The advances had Clack wanting more and aiming to be a bigger part of the action. So, he knew the work he had to put in to better his game.

“Every day, me and captain Steve Kelly, we just went to the field,” Clack said. “We just worked on everything we needed to over the offseason. Every day.”

Improving hisshot was high on his to-do list. “My dad would come to the field and [my right foot was] all we’d work on for like an hour,” Clack said.

In addition to just coming to the field, Clack was in game action for a few months with his club team, the FC Boston Bolts, playing in numerous tournaments. Leahy’s noticed the effort put in.

“Nolan has done an excellent job at coming back from his junior year to his senior year, and he worked as hard as he could in the offseason to make himself the best player he can be, and he’s continuing to work hard,” Leahy said.

Adding more fire to Clack’s desire for success was when he found out the Panthers were going to be down two key players to transfer just a few weeks before the season.

“It just put a chip on our shoulder,” Clack said. “We don’t want to show that were bad, we don’t want to show that we’re too good, we just wanna play the way we wanna play.”

Clack looks to keep rolling Friday, Sept. 21 when the Panthers (2-1) host Hanover at 4 p.m.

“I just want to get over .500 and help the team as much as possible to win,” Clack said.

Double dose of Dunn: Sister act chips in for W-H varsity field hockey

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Lauren Dunn (left) and Kathryn Dunn (right) after the first game of the season. / Courtesy photo

Sisters Lauren and Kathryn Dunn are ecstatic to be playing with each other for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey team.

Coming into tryouts, Lauren Dunn was just aiming to make the freshman field hockey team.

But her speed was too much to pass up for Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey coach Todd Humphrey, who selected her and two other freshmen out of 26 for the varsity team.

“During tryouts, I noticed that Lauren was quick to the ball,” Humphrey explained. “She was aggressive. She’s going to be a playmaker. I thought she worked well with Annika (Putur), so I want to continue to enrich that throughout the season.”

Dunn’s low expectations for her roster status stemmed from the fact that she just picked up the sport over the summer after a lifetime of playing soccer. 

Her sister Kathryn, a senior, made a similar move. Kathryn was the MVP of the junior varsity girls’ soccer team her sophomore season before deciding field hockey was the fall sport for her.

“Kathryn was kind of debating [joining field hockey] and talking about it,” explained Humphrey, “and I said, ‘Look, I don’t recruit. I’m here for you if you want to make that transition. If you want to come play field hockey, I’m here for you. That’s your decision.’”

So, when Kathryn found out her younger sister cracked the varsity team, a few months after talking her into playing the sport, she was ecstatic.

“I think I was more excited than she was,” Kathryn said.

EXPERIENCE

The two sisters’ only prior experience playing together has come when Lauren subbed in on Kathryn’s AAU basketball team when they need an extra player or two.

Lauren said her older sister has been an immense asset for her to have by her side as she makes the transition to high school both in the classroom and the field.

“She’s been a lot of help,” said Lauren. “She’s just there for me, always. It’s awesome.”

Humphrey said this season brings back memories of 2014, when freshman Colleen Hughes (’18) came out for the team along with her sister Caitlin (’15), who would end up being the program’s first captain since its revival that season after a 30-year hiatus.

Colleen went on to captain the team three seasons later. Caroline Woodward (’16) was a captain her senior season and then her younger sister, Tina (’18), went on to do the same her senior season.

“It’s very much a family affair, for sure,” Humphrey said. “I like it.”

In the Panthers’ first game of the season, a 1-1 tie against Scituate, Humphrey gave both Dunns the start – Kathryn at defender and Lauren at forward.

“That was awesome,” Kathryn said. “Scituate was the Fisher League champions, so it felt great to tie against them because they’re a good team.”

Said Lauren: “I was so excited to get to play with her. It was a lot of fun and we played really well, too.”

KEY FORCE

Kathryn was a key force in the middle for the Panthers that game, and Humphrey said he can’t begin to explain her importance to the team as an elder statesman.

“I’m really impressed with Kathryn,” he said. “She was working in the offseason. She was playing in the Bridgewater Dome just doing different things – putting the basketball down a little bit and playing some field hockey, so it definitely helped.”

Humphrey said Kathryn’s biggest improvement from last fall is her technique. “She’s just great at getting low and sweeping the ball,” Humphrey said. “That’s very different because last year she was very high. Now she’s very low and she’s able to drive the ball down the field.”

While Kathryn clamps down on defense, Lauren is flying down the field with the offense. In the Panthers’ 2-1 victory over Silver Lake on Thursday, Sept. 13, Lauren passed the ball to junior Victoria Ryan, who buried it home for a goal to make it 1-0.

“You’re going to see Lauren going more with the offensive flow, just very graceful and fast,” Humphrey said.

NEXT GOALS

The goal the rest of the way for the Dunns is to keep the Panthers’ winning ways going. Through five contests, W-H sits at 2-1-2, its best start since the program resurfaced four years ago.

“We’ll never get this chance again, so I’m glad we got this,” Kathryn said.

Girls’ soccer and golf cruise through Week 2 action

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The highlight of Week 2 was a game-winning 34-yard field goal off the leg of Panthers senior Jake O’Brien.

Week 2 –– the first full week of the fall sports season – is in the books at Whitman-Hanson Regional High. Girls’ soccer, golf, field hockey and football remain undefeated.

Boys’ cross country (1- 1) fell to Hanover, 21-34, Thursday, Sept. 13. The Panthers’ top three finishers were: sophomore Theo Kamperides (third, 15:00), junior Brandon Hager (sixth, 15:33) and junior Nick Hanley (seventh, 15:38).

Girls’ cross country (0-2) was nipped by Hanover, 26- 29, Thursday, Sept. 13. Senior captain Maeve McDonough was W-H’s top finisher with a time of 18:32, which was good for third. Juniors Tori Boss (fourth, 18:46) and Niki Kamperides (sixth, 19:05) also had strong showings.

Field hockey (2-0-2), despite posting 20 shots on net, played to a 0-0 tie on the road against East Bridgewater on Tuesday, Sept. 11. … On Thursday, Todd Humphrey’s club defeated Silver Lake for the first time since the program’s revival. W-H went ahead 1-0 in the second half on a goal from junior Victoria Ryan and then went up 2-0 off the stick of sophomore Lauren Clark. The Lakers scored late to make it a 2-1 final. Seniors defender Kathryn Dunn and Olivia Sheehan and sophomore goalie Maddie Savicke sparked the defense.

Football (2-0) received a game-winning 34-yard field goal with time expiring from senior Jake O’Brien to down New Bedford, 9-6, Friday, Sept. 14. A 14-yard run from senior Billy Martell and 21-yard completion from junior John Zeidan – filling in for Ethan Phelps (illness) at quarterback – to senior Ryan Downing keyed the final drive.

Golf (3-0) topped East Bridgewater, 31.5-22.5, in match play Monday, Sept. 10. Junior Matt Korzec defeated his opponent by an 8-1 score to lead the Panthers. … Three days later, W-H edged Duxbury, 238-245. Senior captain Owen Manning shot a 2-overpar 36, while Korzec posted a 2-over-par to lift the Panthers.

Boys’ soccer (2-1) began the week with a 6-1 rout of Rockland on Monday, Sept. 10. Senior Nolan Clack and junior captain Jason Brodeur each scored a pair of goals. … On Friday, a late Pembroke tally sent the Titans past the Panthers, 2-1. Sophomore Dalton Desrocher had the lone goal.

Girls’ soccer (3-0) blanked Plymouth North, 3-0, Wednesday, Sept. 12. Freshmen Kelsee Wozniak and Olivia Borgen and junior Riley Bina supplied W-H’s goals. … On Friday, the Panthers and senior goalkeeper Skylar Kuzmich (five saves) shut out Pembroke, 4-0. Borgen, classmate Nora Manning, junior Samantha Perkins and senior captain Sammy Smith scored. The defense was anchored by seniors Smith and Olivia Johnson and juniors Erin Wood and Courtney Woodward.

Girls’ volleyball (1-3) picked up its first win of the season, 3-2 over Silver Lake, Monday, Sept. 10. After splitting the first four sets (25-22, SL; 25-14, WH; 25-19, WH; 25-23 SL), W-H won the fifth set, 15-11. Junior Ella Sweeney registered 12 kills, senior captain Nicole Scott had 15 digs and sophomore Caileen Hurley posted 27 assists. … On Wednesday, the Panthers were swept by North Quincy, 3-0. Set scores were: 25-13, 25-21 and 25-19. … On Friday, Plymouth North bested W-H, 3-0. Set sores were: 25- 21, 25-19 and 25-23.

*Express weekly roundups consist of games from Monday to Saturday. 

A flair for heroics: O’Brien hits game-winning field goal, W-H upends New Bedford

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Before the season even started, Mike Driscoll let his feelings be known of his senior kicker Jake O’Brien.

“Jake is a big, big, big part of our team,” said the eighth-year Whitman-Hanson Regional High football coach back in August. “I’ve never had a kid who you feel confident trotting him out there from 40, 45.”

On Friday night, Driscoll’s confidence was tested as was O’Brien’s poise. 

After a Mike Connors run advanced the ball to the New Bedford 17 and two timeouts thereafter, O’Brien got his time to shine in front of a packed Dennis M. O’Brien Stadium. 

With four seconds remaining and the score knotted at 6, the fourth-year varsity kicker knocked in a game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired to send the Panthers to a 9-6 victory.

“When it came time to do it, I wasn’t really thinking, just kind of instinct — all this practice time I’ve put in for a long, long time finally paid off for me tonight,” O’Brien said.

With 3:09 left, W-H (2-0) forced New Bedford (0-2) to punt after just a 17-second drive. On the punt, senior Billy Martell drew a catch interference call, which advanced the ball to the Whalers 40. Martell then bulldozed his way ahead 14 yards to get the Panthers inside New Bedford territory.

“I knew when Billy got that run we were in position there. He said we were good from inside 30, in warmups he was booming them in from like 45, so I felt pretty confident. He wanted the ball on the right hash and Mike (Connors) knew that, so Mike got it to the right hash and Jake came through.”

Junior John Zeidan – starting under center for senior quarterback Ethan Phelps (illness) – followed up Martell’s run by hitting senior Ryan Downing, who just had an interception, in stride down the left side for a 21-yard completion with time winding down to get into field goal range.

“I was a little nervous,” Zeidan said. “I knew what he had to do to win the game. I knew the plays.”

The Panthers struck first in this one with 37.4 seconds remaining in the first half when Connors plowed his way to pay dirt from 1 yard out. A 37-yard throw from Zeidan to senior captain Jacob Nixon keyed the drive.

Tru Williams countered for the Whalers in the third, hitting Joey Alverio on a 9-yard pitch and catch to even the score at 6.

W-H’s defense was sparked by senior captains Connors, Rian Schwede and Quinn Sweeney, along with Downing and seniors Nate Beath and Ryan Trongone.

The Panthers begin league play next week when they travel to Hingham (1-0) at 7 p.m.

“We’ll enjoy this for a little while and they we’ll get right back at it,” Driscoll said.

Kuzmich’s path to the net paved by obstacle at young age

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Kuzmich during the semifinals last season. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Syklar Kuzmich is in her fourth year as W-H’s starting goalkeeper.

Faced with an obstacle at a young age that could have halted her soccer career, Skylar Kuzmich found her niche elsewhere on the pitch.

After jumping into the sport a few years prior, Kuzmich hit a bump in the road when she was 11. Running up and down the field was proving too much as her asthma was getting the best of her, leaving the then-middle schooler with two options.

“I could either quit the sport or become a goalkeeper,” Kuzmich explained.

She chose the latter. Then, she spent the next years in town and club play mastering the position before arriving in high school where she’d blossom into one of the state’s best goalkeepers.

Kuzmich, now a senior, has started for Whitman-Hanson Regional High’s girls’ soccer team since she was a freshman. The Panthers own a 58-5-3 record and haven’t fallen short of the South Sectional semifinals in her first three seasons, a span she’s posted 37 shutouts in.

“I always know that even if I mess up on defense, Sky is there and I trust Sky because she is an amazing goalie,” classmate and fellow captain Sammy Smith said.

Last season was when Kuzmich took her game to a new level, posting shutouts in 10 of 19 games. She earned Patriot League All-Star recognition.

After falling to league rival Hingham, 3-1, Oct. 17, W-H found itself with a rematch against the Harborwomen on the road in the South Sectional quarterfinals Nov. 7.

Kuzmich turned away numerous shots in the first half to keep the score deadlocked at 1-1, before the Panthers pulled ahead 2-1 in the second and that’s where it would stand.

“She made three of four saves there that absolutely gave us an opportunity to win the game,” head coach David Floeck recalled. “I’m hoping we don’t have to see too many highlight-reel saves but we’re happy that we have her there to make a few if she needs to.”

Kuzmich stopped 16 shots in the game.

“She makes these amazing saves and I’m jealous because I don’t know how she does it,” Smith said. “She’s like a ninja.”

Jealousy isn’t all that flows through Smith’s mind watching Kuzmich, a Hofstra University commit, protect the Panthers’ goal.

“I’m confident with her behind me in net at all times,” Smith said.

Kuzmich said that while she deals with the same struggles most all goalkeepers do, her attitude allows her to stay sane in net.

“After you let up a goal you have to have a goldfish mindset,” Kuzmich said. “Forget about it [and] move on to the next save. You can’t let it get in your head or else you’ll let in another one and part of that is you just need to be a little crazy too because one, you’re diving at the ball all the time and two, you have to forget something that just happened even if it was your mistake.”

Floeck said that while he’s had to circle in numerous players on the backline over the past few seasons and plans to do the same this fall, he can count on Kuzmich to put them in the right positions to succeed.

“We’ll have some different people on defense and she’s the one, she’s the conductor of that,” he explained. “I’ve said from Day 1 that one of her greatest attributes is the saves she never has to make because she organizes our defense so well that she shuts off opportunities before they get to her. She can still make the game-saving save, but she shuts off a lot.”

Season Preview: Golf team shooting for competitiveness

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The Panthers during their Sept. 10 match. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High golf team is shooting to remain on course.

When asked of his team’s goal for the new season, Whitman-Hanson Regional High golf head coach Brian Dempsey replied with a two-part answer.

“This year, our day-to-day goal is to stay competitive,” Dempsey said. “Our team this year is very inexperienced, which can definitely make things a little unclear when it comes to matches. That being said, we have some players that have a lot of talent and many others that have the potential to make a big impact.

“Ultimately, our larger goal is to qualify for the state tournament. If we can stay focused, learn from our teammates’ and our own play, I’m confident we can accomplish both.”

As Dempsey had hinted, achieving competitiveness can often lead to making the tournament. That’s a feat W-H’s accomplished four of the last five seasons.

The Panthers will have their work cut out for them, however, after the graduation of nine players, headlined by three of their top four golfers – JP Drier, Nik Duffy and Anthony Palmacci.

Palmacci, one of W-H’s two Patriot League All-Stars last season, shot a 1-over-par to help the Panthers knock off Duxbury for their first win ever over the Dragons.

“Losing Palmacci in the lineup is definitely tough, but with three of the top four spots open this year due to graduating seniors, I’m really excited to see some of our younger guys step in and have the chance to shine,” the seventh-year head coach, whose team went 9-8 last season, said.

The Panthers do return their top golfer and senior four-year player Owen Manning. The two-time captain was a league all-star last fall and posted a 4.1-over-par average.

“Owen is a special player not just because of his ability, but his approach and demeanor before, during and after play sets him apart as well,” Dempsey said.

Fellow senior Ed Scriven will serve as a captain along with Manning. Scriven, who has been on the team since he was a sophomore, emerged as a vital part of W-H’s rotation last fall when he shot a 6-overpar at Furnace Brook Golf Course, a place he shot nearly a 60 the season prior.

“Aside from Ed’s impressive jump in the lineup because of his skill, Ed is really special in terms of his personal leadership,” Dempsey said. “He’s always looking to lend a helping hand, give advice, or share stories, there are few times you will see this kid without a smile on his face.”

Dempsey noted sophomore Aidan Miller and juniors Matt Korzec and Ian Brown will be key this season, while senior Pat Dever could surprise some people.

W-H will be back in action Thursday, Sept. 13 at 3:30 p.m. with a home contest at Ridder Farm Golf Course against league rival Duxbury.

“In the opening weeks, we have some tough matchups for sure, but if we can stay competitive, and not get caught up in the upcoming weeks of the season, we should be alright,” Dempsey said. “I always tell my guys to play present and focus on the task at hand, one shot at a time. If we can stay true to that, I think we can not only reach our season goals, but maybe even surpass them.”

Smith is headed to ‘dream school’

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Smith in the Panthers’ home tilt against Pymouth North last season. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Senior Sammy Smith, an Eagle in waiting, wants to finish her senior season with a “bang.”

She was almost a Wildcat, but then the Eagles came soaring in.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ soccer senior captain and back Sammy Smith was committed to the University of New Hampshire for soccer — a decision she made as a freshman — until a roster error paved the way for her “dream school” to come calling.

“For my club — the U-18 team that I play on — I’m like the youngest player on that team, so I qualify to play with the U-17 team and everyone on that team is good,” Smith explained. “They want to go to college and they’re seriously looking into college soccer.

“So, I played with them (the U-17 team) in one tournament and on the roster — the manager of that team — didn’t have me committed to UNH. So, all the coaches who came to that game were like ‘Who’s this? She’s not committed? I thought she was committed to UNH.’’’

So, the phone calls began as coaches tried to lure the two-time Patriot League All-Star and reigning first-team EMass selection onto their respective campus.

“One of the coaches at my club was like ‘All these colleges are contacting you, do you want to look into them?’’’ Smith recalled.

Smith obliged and she’s happy she did because Boston College was one of the them.

“In the end, BC has always been my dream school,” said Smith, who committed there in June. “I’m so happy to be able to play there next year.”

Smith might not even be the happiest one in her family about the decision.

“My parents are happy,” she said. “My parents are ecstatic. They didn’t mind the UNH — like two hours away — but right down the road, 40 minutes to BC, and plus my mom went there.”

W-H girls’ soccer head coach David Floeck said Smith, who has started for him since she was a freshman, is one of the most athletic girls he’s ever coached.

“She’s super quick and everything else, but her ability to change directions — while being full speed when most kids can’t do that, they have to take an extra step — gives her the advantage,” the 23rd-year head coach said.

“She is tremendous in tight spaces and if she gets in open space, she covers 60 to 70 yards dribbling the ball faster than people can do it without a ball. She’s just a supreme talent and that’s why BC snatched her.”

Panthers senior goalkeeper Skylar Kuzmich said having a player on the field of Smith’s caliber — someone who can excel at multiple positions and on both ends of the pitch — is an immense asset.

“Sam is a great player and it’s funny because she already does play offense when she’s on defense because she dribbles through everyone and then goes up field, but with her there, I feel great, but without her [at defender] we’re going to score goals,” Kuzmich said.

Smith said she doesn’t let the fact that she’s going to a top collegiate women’s soccer school alter the way she goes about her business.

“I try to get touches on the ball every single day,” Smith said. “There’s no moment where I’m not thinking about soccer. I watch soccer, I play it every single day, but I try to not let it get to my head. I don’t want to have a big head, like, ‘Hey, I’m going to BC,’ I don’t let it get to me. I play like a normal player.”

Smith’s commitment adds to a long list of Panthers girls’ soccer players to head to the Division 1 ranks. Lauren Bonavita and Taylor Kofton, both of whom graduated last spring, are in their freshman campaigns at UMass Amherst and Boston University, respectively.

For Smith, the goal this season is to end it and her Panthers soccer career with a “big bang.”

“Oh, I want to win a state championship,” she said.

Season Preview: Girls’ volleyball ready to carry over last fall’s late-season success

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The Panthers in their home opener against Silver Lake, a 3-2 win. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Panthers are looking to continue their upward trend this season.

It was an end of the season that had Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball head coach Ashley Balbian wishing last fall would never end.

Sitting at 2-17 with two contests remaining, the Panthers won out, defeating Middleboro and Bridgewater-Raynham — both by 3-1 scores — in a three-day span as it all started to come together.

“I think at the end we kind of found our groove,” Balbian said. “We had a lot more energy. A lot of younger girls felt more comfortable right as the season was ending, so now those girls are the leaders now so I could tell first practice that was the team, even better than before.”

Now the Panthers are back on the court, and Balbian, who is entering her second year leading the them, couldn’t be more ready to go.

“I’m really excited,” Balbian said. “I think that the girls coming in are just night and day compared to last year. They’re like different players. They’re more comfortable on the court, they’re confident and they’re having fun.”

Nine players return from last fall, all of whom received playing time.

“It’s invaluable,” Balbian said of her returning players’ experience. “I can already see the difference in practice.”

The Panthers do have their fair share of losses though. Halle Jillian (the program’s all-time blocks leader on record), Amanda Anderson and Tori Perry leave big holes.

Senior Nicole Scott and juniors Lexi Connolly and Olivia Martin replace Anderson and Julian as captains.

“I think it’s great to have three captains because the more, the better and they’re great leaders,” Balbian said. “They’re really positive and they always have a smile on their face.”

Scott, who was on junior varsity last season, brings an outsider perspective to the Panthers, which can’t hurt.

“I think from watching on the outside and coming in this year, I’ve realized we do need that more competitive edge,” Scott, who will play libero, said. “It’s good to keep each other positive after games but we got to take the next step and say, ‘Okay, what can we do to get better?’”

Connolly and Martin had big sophomore seasons. Connolly, an outside hitter, played in 52 of 75 sets and registered 92 attack attempts, 22 kills and 70 digs. Martin, a right side hitter, played in 59 sets, had 18 kills and 61 digs.

Both Connolly and Martin agreed, expectations are heightened this season.

“Last year was a building year,” Connolly said. “This year is definitely going to be better.” Said Martin: “[We want to] build on last year’s record.”

Middle hitter Ella Sweeney is also another key returnee for the Panthers, and she’s only a junior as well. She played in all but one set last season and posted 98 kills and 62 blocks.

“She has that experience,” Balbian said. “She brings that positive energy. She’s got that upbeat energy, which I think really adds to her as a player.”

Senior Allison Hanlon will provide a steady presence at outside hitter.

As for strengths, Scott pointed to the Panthers’ togetherness, something she watched work to their advantage last season as well.

“The home game where we played Duxbury – they’re such good competition,” she said. “They’re so good – there was one set where we weren’t ever ahead of them but we were so close and you could just tell we were having fun. We weren’t stressed. We weren’t mad or upset. We were just having fun and it definite ly showed on the court.”

The Panthers will be back on the floor Friday, Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. at home against Patriot League foe Plymouth North.

“I want to see them come out strong [and] confident,” Balbian said.