Ludlowe Girls Soccer Begins Post-Lozier Era

Under coach Tony Samuelian, who is beginning his seventh season, the Fairfield Ludlowe High girls soccer team is developing a winning tradition in the FCIAC.

Last season, the Falcons finished 13-7-2 and reaching the semifinals of the CIAC Class LL state tournament. They also upset eventual state champion Westhill, 3-2, for the team's first-ever victory in the FCIAC playoffs, but  now the Falcons begin life without the best player in the program's seven-year history.

Midfielder Chrissy Lozier, a four-time all-FCIAC and three-time all-state pick, graduated as the school's all-time leading scorer (49 points) and also holds Ludlowe's mark for career assists (20).

While the Falcons also lost a pair of backs Rachel Baumann - an FCIAC honorable mention pick in 2009 - and two-year starter Christy Barre, the departure of Lozier creates the biggest hole to fill. She also earned All-New England and All-America honors last season.

Last season, Lozier record 18 goals and seven assists for the Falcons, who were eliminated by Glastonbury, 3-1. She is now starting at Dartmouth after being recuited by Boston College and Yale among others.

"We have been making adjustments to losing our All-America and all-time leading scorer," said Samuelian, who has a  career record of 49-43-16 at Ludlowe. "This year's team is a well-rounded, versatile and a soccer-aware group."

"We can defend with consistency and we can also build the play out of the back and hold the ball in the mid-field as well as any other Falcon team. They question remains as to how we will make up the loss of Chrissy Lozier's (scoring)."

The cupboard is far from bare, however, as the Falcons return six seniors who were a key part of last season's squad, including three captains - forward Lucia Harold and midfielders Mary Kamovitch and Brooke Mackno.

Harold scored four goals last year, while Kamovitch, a four-year starter, contributed four goals and three assists.  Mackno, also an elite skier and tennis player, chipped with six goals and six assists.

Other returnees include back Jen Markelz, midfielder Rebecca Perko and goalkeeper Blakely Zecher, who was an FCIAC second-team pick last year and also is a captain this season.

"Rachel Baumann and Christy Barre solidified our backs for the last two years," Samuelian added. "Although we got Blakely Zecher back into the lineup last year after an early injury, it will be a challenge to recreate the reliability of Baumann and Barre, as well as the leadership of Rachel as the centerback."

Despite the losses, however, expectations remain high and Samuelian said the Falcons will be disappointed if they don't return to the FCIACs this fall after making their first trip to the league playoffs in 2009.

"Even though we have been to state tournament semi-finals before, there is less and less awe when we talk about getting there again," Samuelian said. "The kids are certainly developing a winning attitude and building tradition in our relatively young program."

"Our day-to-day goal will be to involve as many players on the field and off the field as we can to give us depth of talent at any given time. We are versatile."

Samuelian said that Zecher could develop into the FCIAC's top keeper this season, but acknowledged that his team has to find a scorer's mentality, especially since the Falcons are missing Lozier's 18 goals from the lineup
 
"We can defend from the goal out," he said. "We can build the play from the back out. We will need each player to own the responsibility of finding a way to finish the play.

"Our potential to score is there, but we need to constantly develop a scoring mentality whether it be in front of the goal on the ground or from corners in the air. We need to have a lot of the kids be hungry for scoring."

Ludlowe opens the season Tuesday at Stamford. They face Staples in the home opener on Thursday, then play at Westhill on Sept. 21 in what will be an eagerly anticipated  FCIAC playoff rematch.