Armed With a New Philosophy, Brookline Girl's Soccer Plans for More Wins in 2010

Last season the Brookline High School girl's soccer team was stuck in a rut. Around  mid season, the girl's had only compiled one tie, seven goals and a bunch of losses.

So head coach Robert Sprague wiped the slate clean and started a new philosophy on how to coach his team. Since he made that change, the girls won three of their remaining games, doubled their output in scored goals and looked strong in preseason play.

What was the change you ask? Just ask the coach.

"We simplified," said Sprague. "We tried to cut down on the decisions that the players needed to make. We played a very simplified style where we were trying to attack down the wings. The area we were trying to attack was greatly reduced and we were able to focus. We operated in a very specific part of the field instead of training players globally across the field. That worked for us and it is continuing to work."

That change in philosophy and a return of 13 players from last year's team give Sprague and his Warriors some new hope heading into the 2010 season. Sprague is hoping to finish in the top-2 in the Bay State League, and with a dominating 3-1 victory over Holliston during preseason, he may just get his wish.

The strength of the team will be in the defensive end as two of his pivotal performers played for an Under-17 Olympic development team over the summer. Jen Chuck will take care of duties in the net and Sprague thinks he's got the most talented keeper in the state between the pipes.

Lily Lanier also joined Chuck on that select team over the summer, and Sprague is expecting big things out of her from the center-back position.

"She's a two-time All-Conference player and you think this year she would be All-Conference first team," he said. "She's definitely of the top center backs in the state."

This means that Sprague should have no worries about teams mounting any sustained pressure against the back line of his defense.  

"We are set right down the middle with our center back and goal keeper," he said. "We look pretty good."

Expect Katy Hardt to cause problems for the opposing defenders out of the midfield position this season. According to her coach, Hardt has the ability to score goals and set other players up from any position on the field, and she's no slouch on the defensive end either.

"She's just a menace defensively," Sprague said. "She's got so much energy and she can chase people around."

The Warriors missed the playoffs last season, but a new philosophy might make the outlook in 2010 look a little bit brighter.