Masuk Girls Soccer Looks to Regain Conference Crown

The Masuk High girls soccer team has its sights set on regaining its South-West Conference (SWC) dominance this year.

The Panthers put together another solid season in the SWC last fall, amassing a 6-1-4 SWC Colonial record and a 7-2-6 regular-season record. However, the solid record was trumped by an impressive showing by SWC opponents and Masuk found itself in the middle of the SWC pack. The low seeding led to a tough conference tournament draw in eventual-champion Joel Barlow High and, for the first time in four years, Masuk was unable to claim the conference crown.

Masuk coach Eleanor Brainard said she has a more experienced squad this fall with nine returning seniors and a strong set of underclassmen who gained valuable playing time due to several injuries to starters last fall.

"This looks to be a very solid team with deep depth off the bench," Brainard said. "Most of these players were key to our success last season due to many injured seniors. We are hoping to continue building on that success in this season and have set the bar high."

The team is led by a solid core of senior tri-captains, Jillian Scholler, Rebecca Rivera, Dana Cosmedy and Stephanie Palmer.

The First Team All-SWC Scholler will anchor the defense with Rivera providing added security in the back as the Panthers aim to improve on their stinginess from last fall when they allowed just seven goals in the regular season. Burgeoning junior goalie Megan Fitzgerald rounds out Masuks' defensive strengths.

Palmer will lead the midfield and junior Emily Montgomery figures to be a playmaker in the transition game.

With 15 goals in 2010, Dana Cosmedy looks to be the Panthers' main offensive threat. The Panthers will need to develop more offense than last year in which they managed a respectable 34 goals, but had some scoring issues, resulting in six shutouts.

Overall, Brainard said she is pumped up to get on the field and see her team play. She knows they have the tools for a great year and is looking forward to seeing them develop on the field.

"I'm extremely excited to see what this team can produce," she said. "It has been a short preseason. All of my scrimmages were canceled due to Hurricane Irene and rain from Hurricane Lee. I am anxious to get games in, so I have a better idea of where we are at."