Algonquin Girls' Soccer has a Leg Up on the Competition

The girls’ soccer team will be looking to make some noise once again in 2011.

The Tomahawks notched their first win of the season on Thursday night with a 9-0 drubbing on the road against Leominster at Doyle Field. The win evens Algonquin’s record to 1-1-0 after a tough opening game loss to Shrewsbury.

“It’s nice to get that first one, we wanted make sure our intensity and concentration stayed high throughout the course of the game,” said Algonquin head coach Scott Taggart. “It was tough to lose our first game against Shrewsbury but we got that one out of the way so this one was good for us.”

The Tomahawks finished 2010 with a 14-2-4 record, falling in the Central Mass. Division 1 Semifinals to Shrewsbury. With that in mind, the team returns for the new campaign with some unfinished business to take care of.

“Our team came out and really worked well together,” said senior captain Dana Grieco. “At the end of the day we just want to come out and play well and turn in a solid team effort. As the season progresses we will continue to improve and get better and we’re really excited about that.”

In all the Tomahawks carry 24 players on its roster with a nice mix of veterans and youth. Seven seniors are in uniform, including tri-captains Emily Brown, Grieco and Ryann Hanley.

“I feel our team chemistry is better than it’s ever been this year,” said Brown. “We’re a close-knit group. We look forward to every team event and practices. This group works hard and also has a lot of fun.”

On Thursday, Algonquin spread out the scoring as it saw eight different players score goals against the Blue Devils. Seniors Carly O’Connell, Erica Blanchard, junior Amanda Shea, Hanley, sophomores Amanda Murphy, Julianne O’Connell, Lindsay Brown and Lucy Leblond all found the back of the net.

“I think we’re a young team, we have 10 sophomores on the squad,” said Taggart. “However, I think the depth on this team is one of our biggest assets. We have a lot of good players and we have the opportunity to use a lot of those of players during the course of a game.”

The backside of the Tomahawks' defense is anchored by goalkeeper Rachel Guilford. The junior keeper will look to keep the Tomahawks' cage goal free to the best of her ability throughout the course of the lengthy fall season.

The Tomahawks begin a three-game home stretch this Saturday when they welcome Acton-Boxborough. Wachusett Regional will come to town on Tuesday evening and North Middlesex Regional makes the trip to Northborough for a date with the Tomahawks on Thursday night.