Boys Soccer
Coach: Tim Gillis
Last year’s record: 10-4-3
Key veterans: Zach Johnson, Zach Souza, Zach Good (seniors); Tyler Rand, Galen Perkins, Matt Foye (juniors)
Key newcomers: Noel King, Jeff Morse, Brad Stiles, David Born
Coach’s outlook: A concern for this season is the team’s youth, we have only four seniors, and while that is good for the future of the program, sometimes we lose focus and act too much our age. If we can finish in the top four, it will be a very successful regular season. We aim to get back to the Western Maine final and have a different result this year.
Girls Soccer
Coach: Vincent Aceto
Last year’s record: 5-9-lost in first round of playoffs
Key veterans: Alexandra Aceto (captain), Patrice Plummer (captain), Megan Cutter (captain), Ceara DiBiase, Amanda Northrop, Jalissa Bryant, Emily Wight, Brenda Wood and Alexis Lodge
Key newcomers: Although a four-year player in the Lady Blazes program, Natasha Langway is in her first year as a varsity player and is also a captain. She possesses great strength at midfield.
Coach’s outlook: Injuries will always be a concern for a few players. If we can stay healthy the team’s goals will be met. We have a very positive team that is playing inspiring and passionate and soccer. This is going to be a very exciting year.
Field Hockey
Coach: Beth Murphy
Last year’s record: 12-3-1-Western Maine semi-finalist (lost to Sanford in overtime penalty corners)
Key Veterans- Seniors- Alyssa McCarthy (forward), Jess Perreault (defender)
Juniors- Erin Murphy (forward), Olivia Hebert (defender), Ashley Clifford (forward)
Key Newcomers- Seniors- Elizabeth Wescott (goalie), Tee Pettis (midfielder), Ashley Berry (forward)
Juniors- Cori Knott (midfielder), Whitney Huff (defender)
Sophomore- Ashlyn Bourgeois (midfielder)
Coach’s Outlook: We lost 13 seniors to graduation, and they were a very team-oriented group of girls. This year’s group is very talented and should hopefully put it together as a team as the season progresses. The biggest concern is to keep everyone healthy. Even though we have only four returning starters from a year ago, I feel this group has more talent and should be a top five contender in the league.
Boys Cross Country
Coach: Sheri Piers
Key veterans: Shiquan James, Alex Grant
Key newcomers: Glen Emery (freshman), John Grondin (freshman), Harrison Schondak (junior), Alex Burnham (senior), Sheridan Halfacre (sophomore)
Coach’s outlook:
We are a young team made up of mostly freshman, which is a concern. They are a nice bunch of kids who work hard and have positive attitudes.
Girls Cross Country
Coach: Suzanne Ray
Last year: Missed state meet
Key runners: Jackye Cote (senior), Keelin O’Connor (senior)
Key Newcomers: Megan Cutter (senior), Erica Gammon (junior)
Coach’s Outlook: We came in second in our first meet. Our goal as a team is to qualify for the state meet. Our top two girls (Megan Cutter-sixth, Jackye Cote 12th) finished in the top tier at the relay meet, they should be some of the top runners in our regional meet and hopefully will help to pull the team through and make it to the state meet.
Football
Coach: Daryle Weiss (first year)
Last year’s record: 1-7
Key players: Brian Doyle, senior (QB/DB); Joel Chadbourne, senior (RB/LB); Corey Luce, senior (WR/DB); Dom DiBiase, senior (WR/DB)
Outlook: The Blue Blazes are looking to get back to a winning record under first-year coach Weiss, who comes to Westbrook from Rockland. The Blazes opened the season strong by jumping all over Portland at Fitzpatrick Stadium 34-6 on Aug. 31, for the Blazes’ first win over the Bulldogs since 1992.
The strong running of Doyle and Chadbourne set the pace for the Blazes in the opener. Chadbourne had three rushing touchdowns in the opener and Doyle passed for one touchdown and had another one rushing.
The Blazes struggled in their second game, losing 48-12 to Deering at home. Doyle had a 28-yard touchdown run and connected with Dan Roukey for a 36-yard touchdown pass later in the game.
Westbrook is looking to bounce back with upcoming games against Cheverus (Sept. 15), Bonny Eagle (Sept. 20) and Gorham (Oct. 12).
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