Winning Mindset in Wolverine Country

LEICESTER – Expectations are high for the Leicester High School varsity girl’s high school soccer team in Wolverine country.

“I expect us to win,” said senior Sarah Brouillard. “I think we are a really good team. We’re an older team, so I think we have a lot of experience and I think we’ll go far in the postseason.”

Brouillard should be confident in her team after her team overcame a lot of adversity when COVID hit the team hard last season.

“Last year was so tough because several of my players had to quarantine from being exposed by another school community member, causing many of my starters to miss four to six games,” said head coach Autumn Connor. “I am hoping we can make it through the season without that occurrence.”

Despite the roster juggling, Connor’s squad was able to finish with a solid record of 4-2-3 during the pandemic shortened season. This season, the Wolverines will be returning all but three players from last year’s roster which gives her a chance to teach her team an important life lesson.

“Last year taught us that at any given time it can all be taken away,” Connor said. “I also always hope to teach these ladies life lessons along the way. How to adapt, how to handle wins and to lose with grace, how to be a team player and how to always give 110 percent.”

With that said, Connor still expects her team to be talented enough to have a successful winning season. “My overall expectations this current season is for my players to push themselves to have a successful season finishing at 700 (winning percentage) or better,” she said. “I’m hoping we are all able to compete and be ready for any obstacle that may come our way. I hope to be able to enter the district being at 700 if not better and being able to place in the top 35 for the state tournament.”

Connor is very excited about her group of seniors this fall. They are Rian Fadden, Grace Guinee, Jordan Clarke, Abigail Johnson, Casey Macaruso, and Brouillard. “I have some incredibly talented ladies that will be returning this year,” she said. “I expect my seniors to absolutely shine this year. They are a group of very talented and hard-working ladies that give our defense and middle such strength. They are the core of our team.”

Fadden is a four-year varsity player who has started the last three seasons. Connor described her as being “a tremendous asset to our program. Her foot skills and ability to carry the ball between her feet is outstanding. She is an incredible asset to any team and can play and be successful in any position, although I have found her as the base to my midfield.”

Guinee is another four-year varsity player starting the past three years. “She is incredibly talented and is the backbone of our midfield,” Connor said. Clarke brings toughness to the Wolverine roster at center back. Connor said she is “strong as nails and as fast as a cheetah. She is fearless.” Johnson and Brouillard sure up an already solid defense. Connor said they give her team an advantage with throw-ins, corner kicks, and goal kicks, as well as being solid defenders. Macaruso is another four-year varsity player who has “a heart of a champion,” Connor said. “She trains all year and works hard every day. She is a solid contributor to our midfield.”

Connor said two juniors give the Wolverines much needed offensive punch. “We also have returning juniors Lily Peterson and Maura Granville, who have been training and working hard all summer to give our offense a boost,” she said. Peterson is a weapon with a powerful shot and quick feet. Connor said Granville has worked hard to earn a starting position on the team in her second season on the varsity team, and will “give our offense a boost.”

Sophomores Grace Bujak and Olyvia Gustafson will be expected to give solid support to the seniors in the midfield and in the defensive zones on the pitch. Bujak brings “strong foot skills and an understanding that provides stability in the midfield.” Gustafson showed tremendous versatility as a freshman last season as the roster became decimated as a result of injuries and COVID. “Gustafson also played a solid role transitioning to defense to fill in the gaps from last year’s injuries and quarantines,” she said.

The Wolverines are afforded the luxury of having strong depth. “My bench gives us solid relief,” said Connor. Coming off the bench, the team has experience in junior Nakita Grammatic, who can play defense and midfield, senior Jada Smith, who is a relief for our forwards and midfield, and junior Taylor Mercier, who is solid in the defensive areas, as well as the midfield.

Leicester has tremendous experience between the goalposts in junior goalkeeper Annie Hunt. “Our goalie brings a heart of a warrior,” Connor said. “With her alone back there and a combination of the girls in front, we’re a strong defense.”

Two other up-and-coming underclassmen expected to make an impact, along with Bujak, are sophomores Julia Soden and Hannah Collette. Connor calls Soden “a powerhouse defender. She is fearless, quick and strong. She will be a huge asset to our defense.” She said Collette “is a quick and tenacious sophomore who works hard on defense.”

The players are looking forward to a COVID free season and a lot of wins. “I would say we have a lot of potential,” Guinee said. “It’s exciting to actually play the game without restrictions and that you can get a full season this year and it makes you want to work harder and to make the most of your last year especially since we didn’t get a good one last year.”

“I expect us to go far,” Clarke said. “I feel we have that outside chemistry that most teams don’t have. We just have chemistry. It’s just how it works. During practices, it’s not all serious. We are able to laugh, have fun and talk to each other. We try to do as many things outside of school as possible, but when we’re on the field, we’re there to win. That’s our goal.”

Other key members of the roster include: junior Ayva Connor at forward/midfield, junior swing player Sarah O’Connor, sophomore swing players Tatum Giggey, Chloe Bouchard, and Madison Burkhead, and sophomore goalie Nora Oliver.

“Overall, these are an amazing group of kids,” Connor said. “Most of them are National honors society, peer leaders, class officers. They help me run The Leicester Town Soccer clinic with the U4-U6 children. They have volunteered their time for the past three years waking up early every Saturday morning to help coach our young town players. Our numbers have gone from 25 when I started to now having 68 children registered for our weekly clinic. Most of these girls worked hard and trained all summer.

“They are the best girls you could ask for,” she said.

Leicester High School Girls’ Soccer

At a Glance

Nickname: Wolverines

Affiliation: South Worcester County Division C

Colors: Maroon and White

2020 (Fall II) Record: 4-2-3

Home Field: Community Field

Waite Street, Leicester, Mass.

Coach: Autumn Connor (fourth year)

Assistants: Joseph Mercier (third year)

Captains: None chosen yet (three game captains)