By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
CARIBOU — The Viking girls open their season at home tonight against top rival Presque Isle with a team that will look a lot different from last year.
That’s because 11 players graduated from the 2012 team that fell just short of reaching the Eastern Maine Class B semifinals when they lost in overtime to the Wildcats in the quarterfinal round.
The 11 will certainly be missed by 13th-year coach Todd Albert. Several were members of the 2010 team that won an Eastern Maine championship and the past two seasons were winning years as well. Still, Albert likes his current group, who got off to a good start with a victory in the Presque Isle Preseason Tournament held Aug. 9.
“This is a young team, so winning was a good step in our growth as a team,” Albert said. “We had good participation throughout the summer and had some scrimmages to get everyone accustomed to what we want to do.”
Caribou will rely heavily on its four captains, seniors Delaney Williams, Clara Collins and Sammy Camy and junior Sarah Doak.
“The older girls have done a great job of helping the younger girls fit in,” Albert added.
Doak is the top returnee. The center midfielder missed some action last year with affects from a concussion, but finished with 13 goals in 13 games and was named to the All-Eastern Maine Class B team and was voted to the Penobscot Valley Conference second team.
Williams, a defender, had a team-leading eight assists a year ago and is proficient in set plays. She also scored three goals for the Vikes in 2012. Morgan Outing, a junior, is back as the starting goalie for the second year.
Collins will start at a midfield slot, Camy plays on the back line and junior Erin Patton is another midfielder. All three started at times a year ago.
Other starters to begin the season are junior Bria Judd, sophomore Eileen Patton and freshman Maddie Doucette on the front line and sophomore Molly Adams and junior Madison Doody on defense.
The remainder of the 18-player roster includes juniors Emma Jandreau and Emilee Susi, sophomores Hailey Caron, Sara Boyer, Jenna Boucher and Madison Staples; and freshman Megan Thornton. Senior Mariesa Sarmiento is the team’s manager, while Chris Bell is Albert’s assistant coach and Andrew Kirby the JV coach.
