McAuley’s fall sports teams feature many stellar athletes eager to shine at the conference and state levels. Soccer could frustrate many foes as it develops into a contender. Field hockey should be improved from a year ago. Cross country always features some athletes to watch. The school doesn’t have a golf team, but three seniors, Bri Heisler, Katherine Lake and Sun Yool Park, will look to qualify for the state match as individuals under the coaching direction of athletic director Joe Kilmartin.

SOCCER
COACH: Vince Aceto (sixth year, 15-47-9 overall record)
2012 Record: 3-10-1 (no postseason)
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Katherine Lake (Senior), Ayla Tartre (Junior), Maddy Wade (Junior)
PIVOTAL GAMES: Sept. 7 WINDHAM, Sept. 11 @ Cheverus, Sept. 21 @ South Portland, Sept. 25 GORHAM, Sept. 28 @ Scarborough, Oct. 9 @ Thornton Academy, Oct. 12 @ Portland, Oct. 16 DEERING
COACH’S COMMENT: “Our hopes are to develop a team which has 80 percent freshmen and sophomores. Our expectations are always to get to the playoffs and to take the proper steps to make sure that happens.”
THE FORECASTER’S FORECAST: While the Lions are very young, there are some experienced players who will help the cause. Lake, McAuley’s Spring Athlete of the Year after scoring a ton of goals in lacrosse, returns as a reigning all-conference honorable mention defender. She’ll make her mark all over the field. The scoring figures to come from Tartre and Wade at the start, with the hope that others will step up. Freshman Claire Reed could be a player to watch and sophomore Marge Hatch, a transfer from Greely, will also help the cause. Sophomore Jordyn Carr replaces all-star Molly Miller in goal. While the Lions will have their hands full with the league’s elite, they should be able to contend with most of the squads in the SMAA. If all goes well, McAuley will better last year’s record and could be in the mix for a playoff spot. If the younger players develop and stick with the sport going forward, the future is bright.

FIELD HOCKEY
COACH: Elyse Tourangeau (second year, 0-14 overall record)
2012 Record: 0-14 (no postseason)
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Mia Fisher (Senior), Sophia Warren (Senior), Akech Allolding (Sophomore), Jenny Devine (Sophomore), Kendall Hamilton (Sophomore), Mai Mangin (Sophomore), Kimanna Nguyen (Sophomore)
PIVOTAL GAMES: Sept. 4 BIDDEFORD, Sept. 12 CHEVERUS, Sept. 16 @ Deering, Oct. 2 PORTLAND, Oct. 10 @ South Portland
COACH’S COMMENT “We have a lot of inexperienced players, but it’s a good sized freshman class. We have sophomores who worked really hard in the summer. I’m seeing a lot of improvement. We still have a lot of work to do, but morale is up after we scored two goals in scrimmages after scoring just one last year. We want to work on nailing the fundamentals. We have good chemistry. We’re looking to keep building the program. We’re starting with little goals like scoring a few goals and winning a game.”
THE FORECASTER’S FORECAST: It took 10 games for McAuley to score a goal a year ago, but this team is starting from a stronger foundation. The Lions are eager to compete and have some promising players. Looking to score will be Devine, Fisher and freshman Julia Balison. Midfielders Nguyen and Warren will be heard from as well. On defense, Hamilton, Mangin and Warren (who also plays that spot) will look to protect returning goalie Allolding, who was an All-Rookie selection as a freshman. Don’t expect it to take 10 games for the Lions to score and don’t expect them to go through the season without a victory. While the playoffs are still in the future, this team will start the climb to competitiveness and should be fun to watch as it achieves its goals.

CROSS COUNTRY
COACH: Tim Donovan (11th year)
2012 Results: 12th @ Western A meet (DNQ for states)
TOP RETURNING RUNNERS: Sam Libby (Senior), Katherine Possiel (Senior), Maria Ramsey (Senior), Anna Dube (Junior), Adele Werner (Junior), Taylor Whaley (Junior), Electra Bals (Sophomore), Emma Downey (Sophomore)
TOP FOES: Bonny Eagle, Massabesic, Thornton Academy
COACH’S COMMENT: “I just found out we will compete in Class C for the state meet. I am very excited, I truly believe that we will be more competitive as it is a much better fit for a school which numbers under 200 kids. It has been harder coming up with five to seven top-notch girls to compete at the Class A level. It should be an interesting season.”
THE FORECASTER’S FORECAST: McAuley should be competitive on the trails all season and will certainly be a factor in its new class. The top returner is reigning Fall Athlete of the Year Werner, who qualified for the Class A state meet as an individual last season and placed 58th. Libby (66th at regionals), Dube (74th) and Possiel (87th) are others returning who scored in the postseason a year ago. Bals, Downey, Ramsey and Whaley also have experience. Several newcomers will help the cause. That group includes juniors Monica Hutcherson and Rachel Taylor, sophomore Molly Lombard and freshman Lily Bergh. The Lions have a great chance to qualify for the Class C state meet and behind Werner, could really turn some heads.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Junior Adele Werner was McAuley’s Fall 2012 Athlete of the Year and should be among the top cross country runners in the city this season.

2013 schedules

SOCCER
Sat., Sept. 7 H WINDHAM
Wed., Sept. 11 @ Cheverus
Sat., Sept. 14 H MASSABESIC
Tues., Sept. 17 H BIDDEFORD
Sat., Sept. 21 @ SP
Wed., Sept. 25 H GORHAM
Sat., Sept. 28 @ Scarborough
Wed., Oct. 2 @ Noble
Fri., Oct. 4 H BONNY EAGLE
Mon., Oct. 7 @ Marshwood
Wed., Oct. 9 @ TA
Sat., Oct. 12 @ Portland
Wed., Oct. 16 H DEERING
Wed., Oct. 23 H WESTBROOK

FIELD HOCKEY
Wed., Sept. 4 H BIDDEFORD
Fri., Sept. 6 H BONNY EAGLE
Tues., Sept. 10 @ Windham
Thurs., Sept. 12 H CHEVERUS
Mon., Sept. 16 @ Deering
Wed,. Sept. 18 H GORHAM
Fri., Sept. 20 @ Marshwood
Tues., Sept. 24 H MASSABESIC
Thurs., Sept. 26 @ Noble
Wed., Oct. 2 H PORTLAND
Fri., Oct. 4 @ Sanford
Tues., Oct. 8 H SCARBOROUGH
Thurs., Oct. 10 @ SP
Wed., Oct. 16 @ TA

CROSS COUNTRY
Fri., Sept. 13 H BE, SANFORD, TA
Fri., Sept. 20 @ Biddeford (Gorham, Marsh)
Thurs., Sept. 26 @ Noble (Mass, West, Wind)
Sat., Oct. 5 @ Festival of Champions
Fri., Oct. 11 @ Scarborough (Noble, SP)
Fri., Oct. 18 H DEERING, MCA, PORTLAND
Sat., Oct. 26 @ Western C Regionals
Sat., Nov. 2 @ Class C States

Sidebar Elements

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Senior Katherine Lake is a returning all-star and team leader for the Lions, who are looking to surprise some people and make the playoffs this fall.