Strong Senior Leadership To Guide Sandwich Girls' Soccer

By: Dan Crowley
Published: 08/31/12

 Senior leadership will be the key entering the season for the Sandwich High School girls’ soccer team. Coach Dave DeConto has nine seniors on his varsity roster and will take advantage of the experience and talent they’ll bring to the team. Seniors Kenna Garrison and Katie McKenna will captain the team this fall.

“It’s too much for two people to do everything,” Coach DeConto pointed out. “What we’ve done is divide up the responsibility throughout the group. Everyone is going to take some responsibility.”

McKenna and Garrison have leadership experience.

“Both Katie and Kenna have been captains on club teams,” Coach DeConto said. “Kenna has technical and tactical experience and Katie has been a starting defender for three years. They’re both very versatile.”

McKenna will play center midfield and as an outside defender while Garrison will also play center midfield and up front. Both played in the Cape Cod Women’s Soccer League last summer.

Senior Theresa Wojnar is returning to the center midfield.

“Theresa has a lot of experience with high level club soccer,” Coach DeConto said. “This is her fourth varsity season. She is aggressive and a real bulldog in the middle of the field.”

Leah Noonan, another senior, played in the CCWSL this summer and will play up front for the Knights this fall.

“Leah started as a center midfielder,” DeConto explained, “but she played forward this summer and scored a lot of goals. She has played club soccer since she was very young and brings a lot of experience.”

Chelsea Sutton also played over the summer in the CCWSL and will man the midfield and play some defense for the Knights this fall.

“Chelsea is a big ball of energy,” DeConto said. “She just never stops. She was on the varsity last year at outside midfield. She has played for a long time and is always high intensity.”

Rebecca German will play on defense for the Knights this season.

“Becky is in her second varsity season,” the coach explained. “She’ll play center back. She has also played club soccer and is a very poised player on the ball.”

Ashley Solari played in the CCWSL last summer and will play midfield for SHS this fall.

“Ashley is a multisport athlete,” DeConto said. “She has played club soccer for many years. She has good technical skills and sees the field very well.”

Erin Hurley is another one of the Knights who played in the CCWSL last summer.

“Erin is versatile,” DeConto said. “She can play anywhere on the field. She knows and understands the game very well.”
Hurley will see most of her time at midfield and up front for SHS.

Senior Taryn Gaffney will play in the midfield this fall.

“Taryn is a tremendous talent,” DeConto said. “She is an athlete. She has a tremendous left foot and brings poise and grace to the team.”

Junior Kasey Noonan was the keeper for the Knights last fall.

“Kasey will either be back in goal or at center back,” DeConto said. “She’s a good athlete who plays with a lot of intensity.”

Junior Leah Adams brings more versatility to the team.

“She can play any one of the three lines,” DeConto said of Adams. “She knows when to shoot and isn’t afraid to shoot. She’ll probably play on defense or up front.”

Junior Maddie LaRochelle is another versatile player with club experience.

“She was mostly at outside midfield last year,” the coach noted. “This year she’ll probably play outside and inside midfield.”

Junior Sam Emerson was the back-up keeper last year.

“Sam also gives us versatility,” the coach said. “She can play in goal and in the field.”

Christina Dykas joins the varsity team for her first season on defense.

“Christina is a very smart player,” the coach noted. “She really hustles out there.”

Jessica Lizotte is back for another varsity season.

“Jess is very quick, smart and a technical player,” DeConto pointed out. “She’ll mostly play outside back. I expect her to anchor the back line this year.”

Junior Catie Wojnar joins the varsity for her first season.

“Catie is a tough and aggressive player,” DeConto explained. “She is a shut-down type of defender.”

Sophomore Caroline McKenna is returning for her second varsity season and will probably play up front for the Knights when the season opens.

“Caroline is tall, athletic and understands the game very well,” the coach said. “She started playing at an early age. She is versatile and sees the field very well.”

The Knights will open the season Tuesday at Barnstable and will travel to Dartmouth on Thursday. Sandwich will play their home opener on Tuesday, September 18, against Nauset at 4:30 PM.

“I think we’re strong and we’ll be competitive in the Atlantic Coast League,” Coach DeConto added. “We’re looking to get to the tournament and go deep into the playoffs this year. We’re happy to be playing in the new stadium and I’m excited to have a volunteer assistant coach this fall in former Sandwich High School player Monique Williams who played here for four years.”

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