Hall-Dale High School fall sports previews
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Coach: Brad Brown (5th season)
Last season: 3rd in MVC, 5th in Western C, 5th in Class C
Top returners: Katie-Jo Styczynski (Sr.), Kristi Woods (Sr.), Lindsay LaChance (Jr.), Emma Kammerer (Jr.), Gabrielle Sirois (So.).
Key newcomers: Bridget Duffy (So.), Cady Wilson (So.).
Outlook: The Hall-Dale programs have grown into consistent contenders thanks to runners like Styczynski, Sirois and LaChance. Last fall, they only finished 10 points behind perennial MVC champion Monmouth. With their experience, this could be the year that the Bulldogs end Monmouth's six-year streak.
Coach's comment: "This year's team will not have a definite front runner like we have had over the past four years. We'll rely on everyone doing the best they can and look for improvement during the course of the season from each person. It should be fun to see how much progress we can make."
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Coach: Brad Brown (5th season)
Last season: 4th in MVC, 3rd in Western C, 3rd in Class C
Top returners: Wade Davis (Sr.), Keith McGillivary (Sr.), Dylan Sirois (Sr.), Marc Daigle (Sr.), Matt Harper (Sr.), Kyle Blanchette (Jr.), Alex Colon (Jr.), Sam Estes (Jr.), Ben Garant (Jr.), Calaen Lapointe (So.).
Key newcomers: Brad Longfellow (Sr.), Billy Wilson (Sr.), Patrick Ellis (Jr.).
Outlook: Davis is the reigning Class C champion and will anchor a competitive team. Brown thinks that given the amount of training Davis has put in, he is even faster and stronger than he was a year ago. Sirois came in 25th in a deep Western C race last fall.
Coach's comment: "We return four of our top five runners from last year, and have pretty good depth. Some of our top runners are in good shape and others will get in better shape over the course of the season. We hope to improve upon last year's third place finish."
BOYS SOCCER
Coach: Steve Acedo (1st season)
Last season: 5-8-1
Top returners: MF Derek Pomerleau (Sr.), D Robert Youde (Sr.), D Kevin Trask (Sr.), D Ethan Solloway (Sr.), D Corey Hawkins (Jr.), MF Kyle Bell-Colfer (Jr.), F Brandon Gilbert (Jr.), F James McCullum (Jr.), F Jonathan Truman (Sr.), F Alex McKenna (Jr.), F Jonathan Koenig (Jr.).
Key newcomers: MF Gabriel Lahti (Sr.), G Taylor Mannix (So.), F Jacob Longfellow (Jr.), F Nick Bickford (Jr.).
Outlook: Acedo takes over a team with five returning starters, most of those on defense. There's also good team speed if not a lot of proven scorers. Acedo is counting on Portland area transfer Mannix to fill a void in goal.
Coach's comment: "There's a lot to build, but the defense right now looks pretty solid."
GIRLS SOCCER
Coach: Guy Cousins (7th season)
Last season: 13-3, reached West C semis
Top returners: D Rebecca Cromwell (Sr.), MF Ariel Howes (Sr.), D Jennifer Kaselis (Sr.), F Amy Skillings (Sr.), D Sara Spencer (Sr.), MF Erika Brann (Jr.), D Meg Cousins (Jr.), MF Kerry Fredette (Jr.), MF Kelcey Ladner (Jr.), G Anna Levesque (Jr.), MF Haley Longfellow (Jr.), MF Taylor Massey (So.), MF Aimee Pelletier (So.).
Key newcomers: D Melyssa Kirk (Sr.), MF Meg Barton (Jr.), MF Sarah Bosse (Jr.), D Emily Gilbert (Jr.), D Shandelle Sioch (Jr.), MF Alex Vafiades (Jr.), D Ashley Godbout (So.), F Sara Price (So.), MF Teresa Witheee (So.), MF Kristina Buck (Fr.), MF Kristy Fredette (Fr.), F Arianna Nitzel (Fr.), D Jana Parson (Fr.), MF Paley Sweet (Fr.), F Caryianne Wolfington (Fr.).
Outlook: The Bulldogs graduated 10 seniors and lost a top scorer in Arian Kumlangngam who transfered. But the program turned the corner last year with 13 wins and they should build on that. The defense is strong with pockets of experience at midfield and in the front line, but some of the younger players will have to come through.
Coach's comment: "Even though we lost 11 players, I think we'll surprise some people."
FIELD HOCKEY
Coach: Jess Callahan (3rd season)
Last season: 5-9-1, made Eastern C quarterfinals
Top returners: F Abby Crocker (Sr.), M Brittney Veilleux (Sr.), B Liz Cloutier (Sr.), F Nickole Wheeler (Sr.), G Alyssa Withee (Sr.), M Jess Woods (Jr.), F Carrie Jones (Jr.), B Dakota Mitchell (Jr.), B Paige McNaughton (Jr.), M Kelsey Wright (So.).
Key newcomers: B Ashley Tobey (Sr.), B Brittany McNaughton (Jr.), B Abi Losiel (Jr.), M Colby Houdlette (Jr.), F Jade Hubert (So.), M Haley Jaramillo (Fr.), M Wendy Golden (Fr.).
Outlook: The Bulldogs lost six players to graduation, but return one of the top players in the Mountain Valley Conference in Woods and a capable goalie in Withee. Most of last year's scoring left with graduation, so Hall-Dale is looking for others to step up on offense.
Coach's comment: "I'm looking for us to just improve every day."
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