DYER BROOK, Maine — The Southern Aroostook girls soccer team burst onto the scene in a big way last fall, led by stellar group of freshmen
Returning for her fifth season at the helm of the Southern Aroostook varsity girls program, coach Holly Vining has high hopes for the new season as the majority of the squad returns this year. The Warriors finished 7-5-2 in the regular season and were the No. 8 seed in Class D North. SACS lost to Wisdom, 2-1, in overtime in the preliminary round.
“We are hoping to improve on our record from last year and be in the running for playoffs,” coach Vining said.
If the Warriors are to make a deeper playoff push, however, they must do so with the team’s top two goal scoring threats — sophomore Kassidy Mathers, who is lost for the year with a knee injury, and Lily Leavitt, who graduated this past spring.
“We lost Kassidy Mathers this year to an ACL tear sustained in summer basketball,” coach Vining said. “Kassidy is a tremendous athlete who has left big holes on all of our teams at Southern Aroostook.”
Last year, Mathers made All-Aroostook Girls Soccer as a freshman and led the Warriors in goals.
“She can play anywhere and is completely invaluable,” the coach added. “She provides tons of leadership through her commitment, attitude, and work ethic. The girls have really missed playing with her.”
The Warrior roster includes seniors Marissa Boulier, Mersia Thibodeau and Katie Stevens; junior Tabby Drake; sophomores Kylie Vining, Katelyn Slauenwhite and Madison Cummings; freshmen Sydney Brewer, Makaelyn Porter, Aliyah Morales and Hannah Landry; and eighth-graders Emma Nadeau, Kacy Daggett and Paige Vose.
Sophomore Aaliyona Wenzloff will also miss the season due to surgery, the coach said.
“We are seeing much improvement in our ability to pass and support whoever is on the ball,” coach Vining said. “We returned our entire backline, which has given us an opportunity to focus more on developing our offense in the preseason.”
Teaching the team to pass with purpose and creating quicker transitions from offense to defense will be among the top missions for coach Vining, she said. Developing goal scorers to replace players no longer with the team, and creating better organization on set pieces (whether attacking or defending) are other key areas.
SACS opened its season Aug. 19, 2016 at Washburn.
