McAuley’s fall sports teams will be heard from in the weeks to come. Soccer made great strides a year ago. Despite losing a lot of talent to graduation, that squad figures to contend. Field hockey welcomes a new coach and looks to improve. Cross country has a nice blend of experience and youth and hopes to qualify for the state meet.

SOCCER

COACH: Vince Aceto (fourth year)

2010 Record: 6-6-3 (Lost 1-0 to Windham in Western A preliminary round)

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Shelby Bryant (Senior), Olivia Crozier (Senior), Molly Miller (Junior)

PIVOTAL GAMES: Sept. 2 @ Cheverus, Sept. 10 @ Sanford, Sept. 12 (H) WINDHAM, Sept. 16 (H) THORNTON ACADEMY, Sept. 24 (H) GORHAM, Oct. 1 (H) DEERING, Oct. 5 (H) PORTLAND, Oct. 7 (H) SCARBOROUGH

COACH’S COMMENT: “We’ve had a major numbers reduction. We lost eight starters, so it’s a very new team. We hope to remain injury-free. We hope our scoring comes from the underclassmen. Shelby is having a really good preseason after being injured most of last year. We’re still getting a lineup together. We have a very difficult first five games, but we hope to get better as we go along and we’re still striving for the playoffs.”

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THE FORECASTER’S FORECAST: McAuley turned the corner a year ago, posting a winning record in the regular season before losing a close game to Windham in the preliminary round of the playoffs. The program was then hard-hit by transfers and graduation (losing Allison Bonner, Paige Hickey and 2010 Fall Athlete of the Year Maura Esten). While it will be an uphill climb, the Lions will remain competitive this autumn. Bryant (McAuley’s 2010 and 2011 Spring Athlete of the Year for her softball excellence) is a superb talent and will look to pace the offense. She’ll get help from new senior Morgan Wheeler. The defense is led by Crozier, the sweeper. Miller (an SMAA all-star honorable mention last fall) returns in goal. There are several other girls looking to make a mark. If some unexpected players can make an immediate impact, the Lions will be fine. Navigating the start of the season will be the biggest challenge. If McAuley’s still standing after facing Cheverus, Sanford, Windham, Thornton Academy and Gorham, it could entertain thoughts of a winning record and a return to the postseason. While it won’t be easy, don’t write these Lions off.

FIELD HOCKEY

COACH: Alexandra Murphy (first year)

2010 Record: 3-11 (no postseason)

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Danielle Allen (Senior), Katie Dubois (Senior), Jaime LaCasse (Senior), Cat Snow (Senior), Charlotte Murphy (Junior),

PIVOTAL GAMES: Aug. 31 (H) SCARBOROUGH, Sept. 10 (H) THORNTON ACADEMY, Sept. 14 @ Deering, Sept. 20 (H) SANFORD, Sept. 22 (H) SOUTH PORTLAND, Sept. 28 @ Portland, Oct. 6 @ Cheverus, Oct. 12 (H) WESTBROOK

COACH’S COMMENT “We have a dynamic varsity lineup with seven seniors, five juniors and two sophomores returning to the team. I look forward to guiding the unified, Lady Lions straight through to the championships this fall and to bring another state trophy back to McAuley. ”

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THE FORECASTER’S FORECAST: After a competitive season in 2010, McAuley welcomes a new coach in Murphy, who played high school field hockey in Massachusetts, then at Simmons College. She also tried out for the U.S. National Team and currently plays in an adult league. She helped out the Lions’ junior varsity in last fall. This year’s team is solid in goal behind LaCasse. Allen, Dubois, Snow and Charlotte Murphy also have experience. Cat Ouellette, a transfer from Winthrop, projects to be a top midfielder and will help the cause. McAuley will have its hands full against the premier teams in the SMAA, but should win its share of games as the season progresses. A best case scenario will see the Lions make a run at a winning record and a playoff berth.

CROSS COUNTRY

COACH: Tim Donovan (9th year)

2010 Results: Did not qualify for state meet (14th @ regionals)

TOP RETURNING RUNNERS: Taxia Arabatzis (Senior), Becca Kaiser (Senior), Sam Libby (Sophomore), Katherine Possiel (Sophomore)

TOP FOES: Cheverus, Kennebunk, Windham

COACH’S COMMENT: “We have a young team with a lot of talent. We are hoping to qualify and run well at the state meet..”

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THE FORECASTER’S FORECAST: McAuley fell short of the state meet a year ago and looks to rebound in 2011. The top returner is Arabatzis, who placed 36th at last year’s regional meet. Kaiser placed 60th, Libby 88th and Possiel 90th. Four freshmen will provide depth and promise going forward. That group includes Greta DiPierro, Anna Due, Adele Werner and Taylor Whaley. Look for this team to make some nice strides in the week to come and if the newcomers strengthen the pack, the Lions might be in position to get back to the state meet for the first time since 2008.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Senior Shelby Bryant will be an offensive force for the Lions.

Senior Becca Kaiser will be one of McAuley’s top runners this autumn.

Senior Taxia Arabatzis is the cross country team’s top returner.

Sidebar Elements


Senior Olivia Crozier will be right in the middle of McAuley’s soccer success this fall.

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More photos below.

2011 schedules

SOCCER

Fri., Sept. 2 @ Cheverus

Sat., Sept. 10 @ Sanford

Mon., Sept. 12 H WINDHAM

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Fri., Sept. 16 H TA

Tues., Sept. 20 @ SP

Thurs., Sept. 22 @ Bonny Eagle

Sat., Sept. 24 H GORHAM

Tues., Sept. 27 @ Marshwood

Sat., Oct. 1 H DEERING

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Mon., Oct. 3 @ Kennebunk

Wed., Oct. 5 H PORTLAND

Fri., Oct. 7 H SCARBOROUGH

Tues. Oct. 11 H BIDDEFORD

Sat., Oct. 15 @ Westbrook

FIELD HOCKEY

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Wed., Aug. 31 H SCARBOROUGH

Tues., Sept. 6 @ Biddeford

Thurs., Sept. 8 @ Marshwood

Sat., Sept. 10 H TA

Mon., Sept. 12 @ Windham

Wed., Sept. 14 @ Deering

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Fri., Sept. 16 @ Noble

Tues., Sept. 20 H SANFORD

Thurs., Sept. 22 H SP

Wed., Sept. 28 @ Portland

Fri., Sept. 30 H MASSABESIC

Tues., Oct. 4 H BONNY EAGLE

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Thurs., Oct. 6 @ Cheverus

Wed., Oct. 12 H WESTBROOK

CROSS COUNTRY

Fri., Sept. 9 @ Windham (Biddeford)

Fri., Sept. 16 @ Bonny Eagle (Sanford)

Fri., Sept. 23 @ TA (Gorham, Marsh)

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Wed., Sept. 28 @ Scarborough (Kbunk, Noble)

Sat., Oct. 1 @ Belfast Invitational

Thurs., Oct. 6 H MASS, WESTBROOK

Fri., Oct. 14 H CHEV, DEER, PORT, SP

Sat., Oct. 22 Western A Regionals

Sat., Oct. 29 Class A States


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