Hoosac Girls Aim Higher

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Unfinished business.

 

That is the mantra of the Hoosac Valley High School girls soccer team, and it is easy to see why.

 

The Hurricanes were 11-3 last season before finishing with a pair of losses to Mount Greylock: once in the regular season finale, once in the Western Massachusetts Division 2 quarterfinals, both times by 2-1 scores and once — in the postseason — in a penalty kick shootout.

 

"To lose that last game, double-overtime in PKs, after having outshot Greylock that night, 30-6?" Hoosac coach Blair Mahar said while looking back on the season. "[Goalkeeper] Margot [Besnard] was a great player, and we just couldn't top her.

"We have unfinished business for suer. We want the South [Division]. We want to beat up the North. And we want to go to Western Mass and play as hard as we can."

 

The Hurricanes might just have the weapons to accomplish those missions. Hoosac returns eight seniors and six juniors, including junior goalkeeper Megan Richardson, who made more than 100 saves last year and averaged just a goal per game with five shutouts.

 

"She's on the Junior Olympic Development team," Mahar points out. "We've got a great keeper. We're solid. I lost, essentially, one starting player, Danielle Beauchemin. But I have pretty much my whole team coming back.

 

"Here's one thing I've never had before: I've been blessed with a really deep bench. This year, all these girls came back, and they're all players."

 

Beauchemin led the Hurricanes last year with 13 goals, but returning senior Megan Rodwicz was right behind her with 12.

Hoosac begins its road back to the tournament on the road on Tuesday when it heads to Monument Mountain. The Hurricanes then get nearly a week off to get ready for rival Drury on Sept. 9 under the lights at Renfrew Field in Adams.