A team that lost Division 1 recruit Mallory Smith, and her career 99 goals, might be expected to need to rebuild. However this year’s Girls Soccer squad has the same balance of talent spread throughout the four grades that has been the true reason for their run as a New England power – Champions in 2006 & 2007; Runners-up last year. There are only three returning seniors and one, Alicia Reynolds, is already lost for the season with a knee injury suffered last spring playing lacrosse. Meagan Clark has started every game over the past three seasons and anchors the defense in front of fellow senior Kendall Woods in the net. Juniors Meg Alexander and Becca Parente are the power and talent that make the transitions from defense to offense. New junior, Sheba Nelson, figures to help support the outside defense. Sophomores include Alli Martino, a relentless and fierce defender, as well as Taryn Marak and Vivian Vigliotti who will add to the balance at midfield.

Newcomer Avery Giorgio will also add to the midfield strength, while Krystina Reynolds possesses terrific speed and skill, and will partner with Parente to provide most of the scoring punch. The team looked superb in a 2-0 scrimmage victory at Choate. They opened the season with a wild come from behind victory over visiting Rye 3-2. Reynolds put the Hornets ahead from in close about halfway through the first half, only to see the Wildcats tie just before the break. A defensive mistake gave Rye the lead early in the second half. After twenty more minutes of back and forth play, the Hornets regained momentum and began to dominate play. Giorgio worked out of the corner and set up Parente, who used a few individual moves to shake her cover and get off a hard drive to the far corner to tie it. Hamden Hall kept up the pressure and was rewarded when Reynolds was sent in on a partial breakaway and hauled down in the area. Parente calmly slipped home the PK. Alexander slipped back to sweeper to shore up the defense and preserve a well deserved win. The team takes to the road next week with three challenging away games.