SHS Girls' Soccer Captures Share of Middlesex Crown

On the same day that the boys' soccer squad clinched a Middlesex League title, the girls' soccer team followed in their footsteps, winning a share of the Middlesex League crown with Wilmington.

The lady Spartans finished the regular season with an 11-2-5 record, finishing as co-winners of the Middlesex League Small School Division with Wilmington.

Captain Betsy Albiani is proud of her teammates and the effort they have put in on the pitch.

“It is the first time in SHS history that the varsity girls’ soccer team has won the Middlesex League title, so we were all very happy,” Albiani said. “We’ve worked really hard in the offseason and it finally paid off.”

Albiani knows what an accomplishment it is the win a league title, but the ultimate goal is to capture the State championship.

“Moving forward into the tournament we just need to continue to play our game. There is no tomorrow. We just need to play hard for 80 minutes each game,” Albiani said. “Every person is important on our team and we need to support each other.”

Danielle Phalon, another captain for the lady Spartans, said it was an amazing feeling when the last whistle blew on Tuesday.

“This was the first time that the girls’ soccer team has won the title and to know that all the hard work we have put in all season is finally paying off is awesome,” Phalon said. “Many people had their doubts about our team this year and this just proved everyone wrong.”

Phalon is ready to make noise in the tournament with her teammates.

“We had an unbelievable run this season and I look forward to ... making history in the tournament,” Phalon said. “I thank my teammates for everything and I know that this would have not been possible if it were not for them and how hard everyone has worked. I am so happy to be able to have a senior year as memorable as this one.”

Colleen O’Quinn, the third captain on the lady Spartans, indicated that the Middlesex League title is a perfect representation of the hard work the team has put in each day they step on the field.

“We are always the last ones to leave the field each day for practice and then we are the first ones to return to the field,” O’Quinn said. “We are all ecstatic that we have accomplished one of our major goals for this season after many years of playing together and knowing that we would someday have a league championship title.”

As the other captains stressed, O’Quinn reiterated that the team will continue to work as hard as they have all season heading into the State tournament, but there has been a new pre-game ritual that the team has been practicing before each game: meditation. This practice has helped the lady Spartans down the stretch.

“Meditating is a way for us to mentally prepare for a game and increase team chemistry. We all enter the game stress-free and relaxed, ready to play our best,” O’Quinn said.

The lady Spartans have one more goal set for the 2011 season and that is to win the State championship by following three simple rules, according to O’Quinn.

“We plan on winning the State title and we will do so by working hard, maintaining confidence on the field and playing with intensity,” O’Quinn said. “The players on the team are all very positive and help pick each other up when one is down. I have no doubts that we will go undefeated in the tournament.”