Font ResizeHINSDALE, N.H. -- Drew Arsenault said the Hinsdale varsity girls soccer team are ready for the first game of their season today, in an away contest against Woodsville.
Not experiencing a single winning year in his time as coach, Arsenault and the Pacer squad are eager to snap a decade-long’s seasonal losing slump to change the "mindset of the players".
Climbing out of a 2-14 record from their 2011 season, no one thinks this is going to be easy.
But the team might have one slight advantage.
Many of the girls who teamed up for varsity basketball last year are playing soccer together this year.
McKenzie Bonnette and Allison Scott (first and second defenders) played varsity hoops together along with teammates Skylar Bonnette (midfield), Megan Finnell, Kathryn Fecto, and Bridget Bourne (goalie). The six went on to sweep eight teams at a basketball tournament held in Greenfield, MA over the summer.
Coach Arsenault thinks this same teamwork can translate from the court to the field.
"There’s been a mindset for a while that Hinsdale can’t win," he said. "But if you look at how the girls did in basketball, it shows that is it possible for this team to win, regardless if it’s a different sport or venue."
The Hinsdale coach said he has been running various plays with the team at practice, changing up player positions as the Pacers feel out a new goalie. Bourne and Tessa Pierce will likely
Hinsdale played five games in a day at a recent Pittsfield, N.H. jamboree, competing against all Division III teams (Hinsdale is Div. IV). The coach said the team performed okay, but there are some issues that need attention. And Arsenault said he doesn’t want to make these corrections on his own, although he’s the team’s only coach.
"I’m looking to the upperclasswomen to push the younger girls," said Arsenault. "Losing players can be tough, but our returning players are a lot tougher. This also means freshmen will be getting a lot of playing time."
Hinsdale plays at Woodsville today at 4:30 p.m. The first game they host will be played against visiting Wilton-Lyndeborough on Friday at 4 p.m.
"These first few games will show us what we need to work on," said Arsenault.
Hinsdale girls varsity soccer roster: Coach -- Drew Arsenault; McKenzie Bonnette, Mackenzie Schultz, Allison Scott, Maikayla Mailoux, Skylar Bonnette, Elise Atkins, Colleen Bedaw, Megan Finnell, Amy Yannizze, Shannon Gailey, Kira Supernor, Tessa Pierce, Kathryn Fecto, Bridget Bourne, Sarah Spindler, Mary Lavigne.
David Aquino can be reached at daquino@reformer.com, or by calling 802-254-2311, ext. 164.
