'Iron Triangle' is alive and well
Hollis/Brookline girls’ soccer coach Craig Powers is looking forward to renewing the classic rivalries with Milford and Souhegan, or as he called it “The Iron Triangle.”
“I think it’s one of the best rivalries in the state,” said Powers of the matches against Milford and Souhegan. “The games are exciting to watch and the kids get very emotional out there and want to win so badly.”
Souhegan coach Dwayne Andreasen couldn’t agree more, as his team readies for the season opener at Milford today at 4 p.m.
“You can never get away from the rivalry between Milford and Souhegan, and the kids play so hard in those games,” he said.
Milford coach John Vlachos, who replaces former coach Shirley Campbell, said he expects his team to go undefeated, but “realistically, having so many freshmen on our team, I don’t know if that can happen.”
Powers’ squad nearly did just that one year ago, as the Cavs compiled a 15-1 record in Class I before losing in the tournament final to Oyster River. Fortunately, most of the 2007 squad is back and “hungrier than ever . . . and feel they have some unfinished business,” he said.
Although the team may not be from around this area of the state, Powers and the rest of Class I won’t have to face a Hank Tenney-led Hanover squad this year after he stepped down. Tenney coached at Hanover for approximately 27 years, according to Powers.
“There wasn’t a team in this league that I prepared for more than Hanover,” confessed Powers. “They always put us to the test and they field a great team every year I’ve been coach at Hollis/Brookline.
“It certainly will be a much different Class I this year without Hank.”
The Cavs open their season today at 4:15 p.m. against Pelham.
Souhegan
COACH: Dwayne Andreasen (fifth year)
2007: 9-6-1. Lost in preliminary round to Bow.
RETURNING STARTERS: Delaney Brault, sr.; Heather Brooks, sr.; Kathryn Eagan, sr.; Micayla Gilligan, sr.; Stephanie O’Rourke, sr.; Kelsey Price, jr.
OTHER RETURNING LETTERWINNERS:Julie Arrowsmith, jr.; Aimee Belak, jr.; Kelsea Bemis, so.; Emily Eagan, sr.; Kristin Elliott, sr.; Caroline Hagen, jr.; Jaclyn McKenney, sr.; Mia Ommundsen, jr.; Stephanie O’Rourke, sr.; Kelsey Price, jr.; Stephanie Wesson, jr.
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Shelby Belak, fr.
COACH’S COMMENT:“We have a lot of seniors with a lot of talent, and if we play as well as we did in our undefeated (4-0) preseason, we should be just fine.”
Hollis/Brookline
COACH: Craig Powers (fifth year)
2007: 15-1. Lost in finals to Oyster River.
RETURNING STARTERS: Maura McCartney; Amy Taylor; Lauren Tamposi; Carrie Anne Harmon; Samara Levine; Jill Ackerly; Amanda Gerlitz; Alyssa Cappetta; McHale Perkins.
OTHER RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Natalie Giudici, Cally Quinn, Morgane Ciot.
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Allison Walton, Caroline Barrett, Emily Lombardi, Amanda Salamone; Alicia Wilson.
COACH’S COMMENT: “The keys to our success will be to do the simple things better than anyone else and don’t allow anyone to outwork us. Possess to penetrate and penetrate to score.”
Milford
COACH:John Vlachos (first year)
2007: Not provided.
TEAM ROSTER: Not provided.
COACH’S COMMENT: “We are very thin on upper classmen,” Vlachos said, “but hopefully we can come together because we do have some very good athletes and some skilled soccer players.”
