Sports
TMHS Welcomes New Girls' Soccer Coach
New head coach Kelly Barrio takes over; senior co-captains demonstrate motivational qualities.
The Tewksbury Memorial High School girls' soccer team has new leadership in head coach Kelly Barrio who is beginning her first year as commander-in-chief of Redwomen soccer.
The squad also has new leadership in a trio of senior co-captains: Heather Carroll, Lauren Spencer, and Elizabeth Marchand.
"They will be a great trio of leaders as they are good motivators, have an excellent work ethic, and possess a deep knowledge of the game," Barrio said.
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Barrio was the TMHS junior varsity girls' basketball coach last year and will be continuing her post this upcoming winter, but also wanted to coach the sport that gave her so much fulfillment in high school - soccer.
"I played soccer for years growing up and in high school. I also played on travel and premier teams during the off season. I love the game, and to me the highlight of high school was high school soccer. It was so amazingly memorable, and it is my intention to bring that experience to the program and the girls here in Tewksbury," Barrio said.
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This season 38 girls came out for the tryouts on Aug. 26, and Barrio says she will not be making cuts. Instead, she plans to add a second junior varsity team to accommodate all the girls.
"We will have two junior varsity squads to accommodate the players, and they will rotate each game," Barrio said.
Spencer had a key assist in the squads' season opener last year against Notre Dame Academy, which Tewksbury went on to win 2-1. The team had similar success against Notre Dame later in the season when they registered a 3-0 shutout on Oct. 23. This season Spencer will bring her experience and smart play to the Tewksbury offensive.
Spencer's co-captain, Marchand, has been a force for the school's soccer program, and is also a notable TMHS track star.
Although Tewksbury did not qualify for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) state tournament in the 2009-10 season, they were able to register some solid victories to build off of this year.
Spencer will hopefully have a similar impact in the 2010-11 season opener versus Notre Dame. The match-up will be Tuesday, Sept. 7 at the Saunders Recreation Complex on Livingston Street at 3:30 p.m.
