Coaches Sarah Whitehead and Bev Berton have been at the helm for this recent success, and credit much to the leadership of this year's captains, Lily Munsill ('11/Wilmington, VT) and Franny McHale ('12/Old Greenwich, CT). Whitehead commented, "Both [Munsill and McHale] have worked hard to create an atmosphere in which the girls have fun together." Whether it is singing the team "theme" song in unison en route to away games or supporting each other during games and practices, Whitehead has been impressed with this particular group of girls: "We have a solid core of girls who are fully dedicated to improving every day, through thick and thin, playing as hard as they're physically able."
In addition to the formal leadership of Munsill and McHale, defenders Allie Folcik ('13/Wilmot, NH) and Abi Stowell ('12/Royalston, MA), and midfielders Eva Berton ('13/Andover, NH), Kayla Jaffe (’12/Chestnut Hill, MA), and Hallie Southworth ('14/Andover, NH) have provided consistent energy, focus, and a tremendous work ethic that has been core to the team’s success. Similarly, talented, dedicated, and hard working defenders Emmy Snyder ('13/New London, NH), Abby Landers ('14/Manchester, MA), Emma McAvoy ('13/Hillsborough, CA), and Kate Kozain ('12/New London, NH), as well as Haley de Vries ('14/Marblehead, MA) when she is healthy, have contributed significantly to the stability of a backfield that, with the help of keeper Kayla Harris ('13/Boston, MA), has allowed only nine goals on the season.
Adding toughness and talent to the midfield are Parley Hannan ('14/West Hartford, CT) and Mary Denning ('13/London, England), along with Nicole Ampatey ('12/Union, NJ), when is she healthy. Similarly, injured midfielder Brooke Ellis ('14/Andover, NH) has offered invaluable contributions to the group despite her inability to play, while Nicola Bush ('14/Cambridge, MA) and Jaffee have set the aggressive tone for the offensive throughout the season. Sophie Eaton ('13/Cumberland Foreside, ME), Emma Limburg (’13/New London, NH), and Emily Young ('13/Newbury, NH) have provided the necessary support to Bush and Jaffee as they have helped power an offense that has pumped in thirty-three goals through nine games!
Unfortunately, injury and illness have sidelined Becky Clair ('13/Dulles, VA), Clara Emlen ('14/Calais, VT), and Colby Rymes ('13/Chicester, NH) for much of the season, however, their coaches noted that when healthy, they have been eager to play and contribute to the team’s success in any way they can.
With two games remaining in their season, the Girls' Junior Varsity Soccer team will look to beat both Tilton School’s mixed Varsity and JV team and Brewster Academy for a second time this season, augmenting their current 5-1-3 record. Most importantly, however, the group will continue to work as a team to improve skills and value the relationships that have developed over the past two months. As Whitehead mentioned, “The magic of this year’s team lies in the fact that despite vast disparities in experience and talent, this group of girls consistently shows up ready to play for each other,” a trait every coach would love to have on his or her team!
