Season Preview: Lady Warriors Soccer Looking for Return to Form

After a disappointing 2010 campaign that saw the Wakefield Lady Warriors capture just seven wins and miss out on the MIAA Division 2 Tournament for the first time in several years, fifth-year head varsity coach Janelle Stevenson and company are back and looking to erase the memories of last season’s less than stellar form.

Returners
With seven returning starters back in the fold this year, the Lady Warriors will boast a squad with tons of invaluable experience.

Headlining the class of returning starters are seniors Tory Berg, a sweeper, and senior striker Alana DiNapoli, whom Stevenson will be looking towards to help remedy Wakefield’s tepid performance in the final third last season.

Also back this year, are juniors Alana Parsons (defender), Amanda Ingalls (fullback), Lauren Perduto (center midfielder/stopper/central defender), goalkeeper Katelyn Manning and Abby DiCredico, a central midfielder who Stevenson expects big things from this year, along with fellow playmaker Kayla Ganey, a freshman, who figures to start for Stevenson this season.

Other returning letterwinners include Alana Chankhour (outside midfielder), Jamie Berg (outside midfielder), Lauren Sullivan (outside midfielder) and Alana DeSimone (forward). Two sophomores also return to the ranks this year, as midfielder Amy Shea and forward Kristie McNall are both back for the Lady Warriors.

There are a total of eight new additions to Stevenson’s roster this term, including three seniors. Allison Dougherty (midfielder), Julianne Meuse (defender/forward) and Kayla Yasi (defender) are all new to the varsity this season, joining junior Gabby Moscato (forward), junior Jackie Yandell (goalkeeper), sophomore Cassie Cleary (defender), freshman Kristina Redmond, a promising young netminder, Ganey, and freshman defender Nikki Galley.

Last year’s team was led on the attack by Kate Nixon, who graduated and currently plays at Plymouth State. There is some question as to where the goals will come from this year, but Stevenson said she is confident in her team’s ability to consistently find the back of the net.

Other key graduates from last year’s team include goalkeeper Danielle Resha, center midfielder Leah Merullo and Alyssa Chankhour.

Although the Lady Warriors are off to an 0-2 start, the team is “getting better everyday,” according to Stevenson.

“We have a solid backfield,” she said. “Our defense is always strong, and we have one of the best players in the Middlesex League in (Abby) DiCredico. Along with (Kayla) Ganey, who is experienced at the club level, the center of our midfield should be pretty strong.”

With DiNapoli figuring to shoulder much of the goal scoring load, in rotation with Wakefield’s other forwards, the one position that the Lady Warriors are “still ironing out,” is at outside midfielder, but there appears to be sufficient depth on the roster to get that sorted in short order.

Wakefield will rely on a 4-4-2 formation this year, with four defensive players at the back, two central midfielder, two wide midfielders and two forwards. This is largely down to the defensive capabilities of the formation, according to the Lady Warriors coach.

“I love the marking responsibilities (of the 4-4-2),” said Stevenson. “Every player being responsible for someone.”

As far as her expectations for this season, Stevenson, a former Wakefield High and Keene State player, feels making it back to the postseason this year is a goal well within the reach of her team.

When asked if the tournament was a reasonable goal for the Lady Warriors, she didn’t mince words in her response.

“Yes, absolutely,” she said.

“We should do very well against the (Middlesex League) small school, and I think we can take several games against large school teams.

“We have a long way to go ... the girls are looking forward to the challenge,” she added. “We have a lot of experience. We should make the tournament.”