Leadership key for Bear girls

12 years ago

Leadership key for Bear girls

By Kevin Sjoberg

Sports Reporter

    EASTON — This is Rachel Tomlinson’s fifth year as coach of the Bears’ varsity girls soccer team, and the one thing that has stood out for her so far has been the leadership displayed by the team’s upperclassmen.

Contributed photo/Dave Allen Graphics

    KYLEE CARTER of the Easton girls gets ready to connect on a corner kick during last Wednesday’s game in Washburn. SP-eastonwashgDA-dcx1-sh-34 Carter, a sophomore, will be one of the offensive leader for the Bears, who hope to make a return trip to the Eastern Maine Class D playoffs.

    “The girls appear to be much more comfortable and confident with their teammates early in the season, and that is something I haven’t seen in the past,” Tomlinson said.

    Easton logged a successful 2011 season, going 8-5-1 and winning a prelim game before being eliminated by Fort Fairfield in a quarterfinal game that went into overtime.

    During the preseason, Tomlinson has been concentrating on conditioning and ball control with her young team.

    “We are also working on a new formation in hopes we can limit the number of goals scored against us while trying to put more in on our end,” said Tomlinson, who noted the early workouts have also involved fostering better communication – “both on and off the field.”

    Easton had played two games entering yesterday’s home game against Ashland. The Bears were soundly beaten by Washburn, 7-2, before coming through with a 13-1 win over Wisdom.

    Tomlinson has big expectations for juniors Mariah Cyr and Cassandra Buck. She said their ability to run the field and see their open teammates should open up scoring chances for sophomores Kylee Carter and Taylor Brown and freshman Emma Bonner.

    Senior Carla Halvorson, who has averaged 26 goals per season over her first three, is an obvious offensive threat who Tomlinson said has worked hard in the off-season on her “touch, speed and passing.”

    The defense is led by seniors Kennedy Young and Mindy Desmond. Alex Allen is one of the team’s most improved players and will also play in the back, while sophomores Kristen West and Madison Leach will rotate on the final starting defensive slot.

    The goalkeeping chores will be handled by sophomore Hannah Ferris, who steps into the position for the first time but worked hard during the summer training for the job.

    Coming off the bench to begin the season are sophomore forwards Nichole Dudley, Kelsey Frank and Kerrigan Arnett; junior defender Stephanie Hammond, sophomore field player and back-up goalie Caitlin Monroe and freshman Blake Bradley, who also could see action in goal as well as on the defensive end.

    “Some of these young ladies may see themselves stepping into starting positions as the season progresses,” Tomlinson said.

    The coach said staying healthy is an obvious key to a strong season, but noted it will also be very important for the players to challenge each other and grow as a team.

    The three-week harvest break and absence of a lighted field makes getting off to a good start a must for the Bears, according to Tomlinson.

    “Many of our players work and we basically lose three weeks of practice time,” Tomlinson said of the recess that begins in mid-September. “We need to gain as many wins as we can the first four weeks of the season to be contenders for the playoffs.”