LIMESTONE, Maine — The Eagle girls’ soccer program has undergone major changes since last fall.
Coach Becky West returned, but many of the players on last year’s roster did not. In fact, Limestone-MSSM has 10 newcomers among its 18 players.
“The girls are working hard to come together as a team and play together as the majority of these girls have not played together before,” West said. “We continue to work on communicating as a team on the field. This is extremely important for us as we continue to grow and jell together.”
In goal is junior Jackie Peers, who served as since-graduated Jordyn Hopkins’ backup but missed a bulk of last season due to injury.
“She has stepped up and has done a great job,” West said. “I see her continuing to grow as a keeper each game.”
The Eagles play a 4-3-3 formation in front of Peers, with juniors Jessica Tucker and Kassee Albert and seniors Kareena Woodworth and Annie Sinclair the fullbacks. The midfield trio includes sophomore Emma Vannorsdall, who is the team’s leading scorer with three goals, along with senior Ellyzabeth Bencivenga and junior Kaitlyn Beil.
The starters at forward are juniors Sarah Hemphill and Jacinta Deschaine and freshman Lily Tedford.
When West goes to her bench, she relies on seniors Brittany Clark and Lillian Costello, junior Leah Kihn, sophomore Rebecca Dillinbeck and freshman Bailey Chalmers.
Junior Alyssa Sinclair serves as the team manager.
The Eagles carry a 2-10 record into their final two contests, with the victories coming over Hodgdon and East Grand in back-to-back games in mid-September. Prior to those two games, the team lost its first six contests and since then have dropped four in a row. However, wins over Wisdom and Easton would most likely push the team into the Eastern Maine Class D playoffs.
Limestone-MSSM has scored 11 goals on the season, five coming in the home win over East Grand, and has allowed 59. After giving up an average of eight goals per game in the first five matches, the squad has allowed three goals or less in five of its last seven.
“We are focusing on one game at a time and continue to work hard and make improvements each time we play,” West said.
