State Championship a 'Realistic Goal' for CCHS Girls Soccer

Preseason soccer tryouts have been under way at Concord-Carlisle High School, for the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams this week. Nancy Slocum, in her 14^th year as girls varsity head coach, has been busy scoping out players and beginning to make cuts to prepare for the start of the 2011 season.

“We’ve got over 70 kids trying out [for all three teams], which is a good turnout for us,” Slocum said. “Thirty-four freshmen, about 30 sophomores; some good talent in there. It’s making our job a tough one to make decisions about which team players belong on, and obviously with numbers like that you can’t retain everyone in the program. So some kids will have to find a different activity for the fall.”

Last season, the Patriot girls team finished as champions of the Dual County League Small Division, only to fall in the quarterfinals of the MIAA North Division 1 Tournament, ending as a 6-seed with a 12-2-4 record.

The girls had a bye in the preliminary round and beat No. 22 Lincoln-Sudbury in a dramatic penalty kick shootout in the first round, but were eventually beaten 2-0 by No. 3 Central Catholic. The Crusaders pushed out No. 2 Masconomet in the semifinal round, No. 9 Westford Academy, 2-1 in OT in the final to become sectional champions, and eventually state champions as well, beating Franklin and Shrewsbury in the semi and final, respectively.

This year, Slocum said she has her sights set, once again, on a state championship, and she sees no reason why the goal can’t be accomplished.

“I think that the standard’s been set and expectations are high and I think that striving for a state championship is a realistic goal,” Slocum said.

While the teams have yet to be formed — cuts were made on Friday and one more round will happen next week, presumably on Tuesday, Slocum said — the coach knows what she lost in senior starters Courtney McCauley, Lindsay Cook, Jamie Potter and Posie Holmes, and what spots she is looking to fill on the field.

“We definitely need to restock in the back,” Slocum said. “Both Courtney and Jamie were backs. And fortunately I think we’ve got good depth.”

Senior Lauren Tierney and junior Lucy Fell were named captains for the varsity squad, and Slocum knows they’ll bring great plays to the team.

“I think their leadership is evolving,” she said. “What I’ve seen so far after the summer, through captains’ practices, summer league and through these first three practices that we’ve had, I think that they bring a great energy, a great drive [and] are really great role models.

“Lauren is unfortunately unable to participate right now,” Slocum continued. “She has a bad ankle sprain, but I think they both have a good balance of fun-loving spirit, and a serious drive and dedication — that is a good complement as a captain.”

With three scrimmages set before their regular season opener on Sept. 7 against Bedford High School at 3:45 p.m., Slocum said she has mixed expectations for the season.

“I have expectations, but I also realize you have to take it a step at a time,” Slocum said. “There are phases of development. I think for the phase of development we’re at now, we’re where we should be.”

Scrimmages are scheduled for Saturday against Natick High School at 10 a.m., Tuesday at North Andover High School at 10 a.m., and Sept. 3 at Reading Memorial High School at 8 a.m.

Slocum also said the season goes fast, including the preparation time for the first game, and there’s not much time to get ready. But with the scrimmages, the team will get a little taste of the competitive environment and then get some training opportunities in order to be ready when the time comes to face Bedford.

There’s not one specific game that coach is excited about for the 2011 season, but rather the entire program as a whole.

“I think that the whole girls soccer program across the board — freshman, JV and varsity — has really evolved to a great place,” Slocum said. “There were years, this is my 14th year coaching, and there were years, maybe nine or 10 years ago where we actually weren’t able to field three teams because we just didn’t have the numbers. And now we’re making cuts at each level — not that we enjoy the fact of making cuts, but it’s great to have the kind of depth and dedication and interest from the female youth soccer players in Concord and Carlisle.”