Crusaders Ready for Season

FIELD HOCKEY

Head Coach: Rachel Connerty (1st year); JV coach, Sara Ankerud

Key Losses: Allie Baxter, Lauren Kreamer, Lauren Johnson, Liz Gonzalez, Jamie Park and Rebecca Reich.

Captain: Livy Penney (12)

Returning Starters: Livy Penney*, Michele Herlihy* (12), Kelsey Hannemann* (12), Siobhan Murray (12), Emily Riposa (12), Fiona Henry (11).

(Players to watch*)

Forwards: Shelly Herlihy, Kelsey Hannemann, Haley McEvoy (12), Kale Connerty (12).

Midfield: Livy Penney, Fiona Henry

Defense: Crusaders will play a diamond with Siobhan Murray, Emily Riposa, Katherine Horrigan (11), Jessica Allen (11), Meg Colantioni (10) and Nicole Wilkinson (11) rotating through the four positions.

Goal: Starting Erin Connerty (11) - technically sound, solid player. Abby Vervaeke (9) - instinctive, reactive.

Talented, deep bench. Midfield:  Emma Ghilardi (11), Annika Liljegren (12).

Forward: Abby Sullivan(11), Madison Ready (11)

Concerns: Midland C Champions in 2011. Took their lumps in Midland A in 2012 but are ready to show in 2013. Demanding schedule including games with Westford, Wachusett, Algonquin, Westborough to name a few. 'Nough said! Staying healthy will be critical.

Strength: Eight seniors return who have been together forever; excellent team speed. Livy Penney is a determined, aggressive, Pedroia-type player; always plays at 110 %; an excellent leader, communicates well, respected by teammates.

Coach's Comments: "Exceptional group of student athletes who work as a team, have the ability to be competitive in Midland A."

Season opener: 9/4 @ Westford Academy 4 p.m.                                                                                                           

Home opener:  9/11 vs. Nashoba Regional  4 p.m.

BOYS GOLF

Head Coach: Dave Bean (8th year)

Key Players Graduated: Brendan Hunter, Ryan Bunis

Senior Starters:  No. 1- Evan Bunis (Capt.), No.2- Dean McCann, No. 3- Greg Preston, No.4- Ryan Doody, No.5-Andrew Sinnery.Jordan Dorff (11), Chris Hunter (9), Connor Gardner (9), Mike Scire (11) will compete for sixth and final starting spot.

Players with potential, looking to move up to play matches next year : Mike McAuliffe (10), Scott Rubeski (10), Jared Dorff (10), Michael Barbosa (12), Myles Markham (12), Bryan Royal (12).

Promising Freshmen: Jonathan Rivet, Kyle Gardner, Connor Mulligan

Developing:  Owen Kneeland (10), Griffin Lilly (10), Patrick Ryan (10), Kyle Lacombe (9), Lucas Sottile (9), Griffin Crowell (9).

Concerns: Difficult schedule with matches against Westborough, Marlborough, Quabbin, Nashoba and North Middlesex, the strongest program in Central Mass.

Coach's comments: "Our fourth and fifth players are critical for our success."

First Match: 9/3 vs. Quabbin

GIRLS SOCCER

Head Coach: Steve Naiboicheck (2nd year) Record: 10-9-2

Key Losses: Kailyn Rekos (All State Goal Keeper, D1 player at U-Delaware), Meg Freiter, Dani Kenney (All State)

Captains: Lindsay Werner, Olivia Rubeski and Vicky Prescott

Returning Starters: Defensive: Lindsay Werner, Brianna Considine, Katie Wogan and Danielle Johnson

Midfield: Elena Biasi, Vicky Prescott, Olivia Rubeski and Marielle Beyh

Front line: Brittany Belanger, Sydney Volpe 

Players pushing starters for playing time:

Marianna Murphy and Becca Herlihy (Defense)

Nikki Eggimann, Callie Sebilian and Kara Jussaume (midfield)

Nicki Little, Ariana Lacombe

Coach's comments: It was obvious the girls worked hard over summer playing in a competitive high school summer league season that had them way ahead of where they were last year at this time. Brittany Belanger has had an excellent pre-season, came into camp physically strong and is ready to have a breakout year. Three talented freshman Volpe, Little and Eggimann have impressed in pre-season and made the team. Volpe is a very skilled, aggressive player with good tactical awareness.  Little is a physical player with excellent speed, good skills and very competitive.  Eggimann is fast, very good endurance and can cross the ball very well.

Concerns: The Crusaders have moved into Division I for CMASS for playoffs. The regular schedule includes games againstAlgonquin, Nashoba and Westbourgh, schools much larger than Groton-Dunstable.

Team/coach's goals: Crusaders lost to Northbridge in Central Mass semi-finals last year. "Our senior leadership is outstanding. Qualifying for the post-season and getting to the CMass finals and beyond is their goal!" said Naboicheck.

Season opener: 9/4 at Tyngsborough 4 pm                                                                                          

Home opener: 9/10 vs. Nashoba Regional