Published in the September 13, 2018 edition
By DAN NUNN
NORTH READING — After losing 13 immensely talented players to graduation from last season, the 2018 Lady Hornets soccer team are still a work in progress.
AVA ZARELLA is one of four senior captains leading the Hornets girls’ soccer team into the 2018 season. (John Friberg Photo)
“With so many starters graduating the greatest challenge will be redefining player’s roles and increasing their responsibilities,” said head coach Sean Killeen. “But with a lot of players returning with some varsity experience the team is working hard to set the tone for the season.”
NRHS has 17 returners with some form of varsity experience. Seniors Alyssa Crugnale, Gabbie Barker, Ava Zarella and Kaitlin Shevlin will serve as captains. Along with the captains, the team will lean on eight other seniors alongside juniors Alyssa Prusik and Joanna Kellogg in order to be successful.
There are also a handful of underclassmen who made the jump to varsity from last year’s JV squad. This year, juniors Emily Davis, Olivia Lowe and sophomore Katelyn Gorgenyi made the varsity team.
Besides Crugnale, who will serve as the goalie, the rest of the starting lineup is undecided. But Coach Killeen believes if the team is “committed to getting better every day we step on the field we will qualify for the tournament and go as far as we want to.”
