BRUNSWICK

There have certainly been some big changes regarding the Brunswick High School athletic programs.

At the top, Jeff Ramich is the new athletic director, and field hockey has a new coach in Karin Iuzzolino-Paquin. Plus, the Dragons have a new football home, playing in Eastern Maine Class B, with many familiar faces in their path.

In soccer, Mark Roma leads the boys in his second season at the helm, while Martyn Davison looks to coach his Brunswick girls to another stellar season, hopefully with a better postseason result.

Football

Coach — Dan Cooper.

2012 highlights — Finished 7-2 in Eastern A, good for the No. 3 seed. Fell to No. 2 Cony, 21-20, in the Eastern A semifinals.

Personnel lost — Jared Jensen (attending Hyde School in Bath this year), Jason Carter, Brett Lancaster, Nolan Robbins, Steve Faith, Kaleija Inniss, Colby Dwyer.

Personnel returning — Seniors Nick Dodson (G/DE), Jacob Duffy (G/LB), Josh Thibeault (T/DT), Logan Tupper (RB/DE), Ryan Maciejewski (RB/DB), Lucas McCue (RB/LB), Cody Bucheit (TE/DE), Adam Casey (T/DT), Brady Larson (QB/S), Zach Raubeson (RB/LB); juniors Alex Bandouveres (RB/DT), Pearson Cost (CB), Mitchell Smith (C), Taran Payne (WR/DB).

Newcomers — Junior Danny Norzow (transferred from Mt. Ararat); sophomores Will Bessey (RB/LB), Alan Molnar (WR), Evan Groat (RB/DB), Andrew Cilea (G/DE).

Coach’s comments — “We want to be physical and grind it out, with a big offensive line and big physical backs. We need to take care of the football, something we struggled with last season. Losses on our line to graduation have been filled in nicely, and Lucas McCue will step in to fill the shoes of Jared Jensen (over 2,000 yards rushing last season). We expect McCue to be electrifying, and may be the biggest and fastest running back that I have ever had.

“I believe Eastern B is tough, with the top five or six teams extremely competitive. Cony, Lawrence, Mt. Blue, Messalonskee will be there, and Western B has solid teams like Marshwood, York and Kennebunk, a team we play in our finale at home. It is a tough schedule, but I feel that this team is ready to go.”

Season opener — Sept. 6 at Brewer, 7 p.m.

Key dates — Sept. 20 (home opener against Cony); Oct. 4 (at Mt. Blue); Oct. 11 (H, Messalonskee); Oct. 18 (at Lawrence).

Boys soccer

Coach — Mark Roma.

2012 highlights — Was 8-4- 2 in Roma’s first season after replacing longtime leader Peter Gardner. Defeated Bangor, 3-2, in the Eastern A quarters before falling to Mt. Ararat, 4-1, in the semifinals.

Personnel lost — Jimmy Kenyon, Paul Kousky, Brandon Gerber, Konnor Scarponi, Greg Walton, Patrick Kinnee.

Personnel returning — Seniors Ryan Black (Capt., A), Ryan Brescia (GK), Ian Burgess (MF), Adam Finik (MF), Blake Gordon (Capt., A), Philip LeBlanc (D), Satchell Toole (D), Cullen Shea (D, injured); juniors Jesse Arford (A), Ryan Croatti (D), Cam Glover (Capt., MF), Eric Kousky (D).

Newcomers — Seniors Dalton Favreau (D), Cormick Gaughran (MF, played as a sophomore); junior Evan Murray (GK); sophomores Josh Clark (A), Reed Foster (D), Alex Reny (MF); freshman Christian Glover (D).

Coach’s comments — “We need to come together quickly as a team. We have no stars, but a bunch of great kids who play hard and support each other. We need to defend as a unit. We don’t have (former goaltender) Greg Walton to bail us out anymore when we have breakdowns. I expect our backs to play strong, and we are asking (goaltender) Ryan Brescia to make the saves he should make and only be forced to make one spectacular save per half.

“The kids are more comfortable with my style and expectations. However, I feel it will be hard to match the win total from last year, but we are focused on that. Our goal is to get better every session, so come the end of the season we have developed into a team that can challenge. I think the KVAC has improved as a conference, with Lewiston, Mt. Ararat, Bangor and Hampden among the top programs in the state. Plus, Edward Little will be better. I believe as a team we will respond to the challenge of the league. They better, as we open with Hampden and Mt. Ararat. We are thrown to the wolves early.”

Season opener — Sept. 6 at Hampden Academy, 6 p.m.

Key dates — Sept. 11 (home opener against Mt. Ararat); Sept. 17 (at Messalonskee); Sept. 21 (H, Bangor); Oct. 3 (at Lewiston); Oct. 22 (at Mt. Ararat).

Girls soccer

Coach — Martyn Davison

2012 highlights — Rolled through the regular season with a perfect 14-0 mark, but was stunned by No. 7 Erskine Academy, 3-2.

Personnel lost — Rachel Moroney, Allison Hill, Paige Tetu, Jena Libby, Libby Arford, Lauren Carlton, Hannah Kressbach.

Personnel returning — Seniors Anna Cowan (Capt., A, KVAC All-Conference, All- State team in 2012), Caley Nicholson (Capt., MF), Lyse Henshaw (Capt., MF), Julia Carpenter (D), Madeline Cowan (MF), Haley Murano (GK); juniors Kassidy Scarponi (A), Julia Champagne (MF), Rebecca Bailey (A), Alicia Davis (MF); sophomores Emily Black (MF), Lena Martin (MF).

Newcomers — Senior Juliana Rattay (D); juniors Anna McMillan (D), Savannah Smith (MF), Julia Rider (MF); sophomores Jena Bailey (D), Emily Cowan (D), Heather Kinee (MF), Raquelle Hardin (GK).

Coach’s comments — “Our key to success is playing as a team. We have graduated some outstanding individual players over the past few years and this team will be relying on the team unit to be successful. We have a wonderful group who are all great friends and outstanding young ladies who want to play for each other. This is what we need to display in each game for us to be successful. We have talented individuals, but we will be a team in every sense of the word this season.

“We played Erskine Academy in the preseason and won, 3-0. So, that ghost has been laid to rest. We did not play well on that day last year and they deserved to win, so no complaints from us. That is the great game of soccer.

“Hampden Academy, Bangor, Mt. Ararat and Lawrence will be right there this season I believe.”

Season opener — Sept. 6 at home against Hampden Academy, 3:30 p.m.

Key dates — Sept. 11 (at Mt. Ararat); Sept. 24 (H, Edward Little); Oct. 17 (H, Lawrence); Oct. 22 (H, Mt. Ararat).

Field hockey

Coach — Karin Iuzzolino- Paquin, first season.

2012 highlights — 2-9-3, missed playoffs.

Personnel lost — Olivia LeRoy, Taylor Godbout, Michelle Ingram.

Personnel returning — Seniors Caroline Rivard (D), Samantha Clark (D), Grace Rabinowitz (D), Sarah McQuoid (F); junior Alexis Schneider (F); sophomores Britni Beaulieu (D), Ellie Leinert (F), Caroline Nickerson (D), Jordan Van Savage (GK).

Newcomers — Freshmen Faith Allen-Harris (D), Hannah Escoe (F), Kolby Levesque (D), Erin Marc- Aurele (MF), Cassie Ridge (D), Ketty Stinson (D/MF), Anna Webster (GK).

Coach’s comments — “Every practice and scrimmage is allowing this team to come together and unite to achieve success. The players have been working really hard on foot skills, stick skills, and successively completing passes, corners and changing the field the play. Each member of the team has one and two team sister (s) that they can rely on during partner drills and support both on and off the field.

“This season is a growing season for Dragons field hockey, with many of the players just entering Brunswick High School. With practice, determination and growth, this team should develop into a united and successful team as the year and years progress.

“I expect each of my players to come to practice prepared to dedicate 100 percent. I expect them to come focused, but at the same time excel in academics. Two of my returning seniors are part of the National Honor Society (McQuoid, Rabinowitz), while 20 of the 31 players made the Honor Roll in the last quarter.”

Season opener — Sept. 4 at Edward Little, 4 p.m.

Key dates — Sept. 6 (home opener, Cony); Sept. 17 (at Oxford Hills); Sept. 19 (H, Mt. Ararat); Oct. 12 (at Mt. Ararat).

Cross country

Coach — Dave DeLois 2012 highlights — After finishing second in the KVAC Championship, Brunswick finished fourth in the State Class A meet, led by Tessa Cassidy’s ninth-place finish and Teresa Murphy 14thplace showing. The Dragon boys were 13th, with Walter Martin the top Dragon in 47th.

Personnel lost — Jamie Ross, Alex Nichols, Jessica Russell.

Personnel returning — Boys: Seniors Walter Martin, Zach Miller, Donovan Shea; juniors Chris Tanner, Jack Murphy, Jacob Hunter, Benjamin Flanagan, Mack Stinson, Andrew Bobker; sophomore Jason Higginbotham. Girls: Seniors Teresa Murphy (All-KVAC last season), Anna Turner, Brooke Trimmer, Amy Lyons, Shannon Viola, Lily Sanders; junior Brooke Escoe; sophomores Tiffany Tanner (All-KVAC last year), Tessa Cassidy (All-KVAC last season and New England qualifier), Lily Hood, Cleo Carrera, Emma Nagler.

Newcomers — Boys: Andrew Kew; freshmen Evan Guernelli, Sam Nichols, Dasol Kim, Nick White; Girls: Juniors Ruth Van Campen, Elaine Kew, Laurel Margeram; sophomore Emma Van Campen; freshmen Brooke Barter, Allie Burns, Callie Crawford.

Coach’s comments — “The keys for us will be stay healthy, have a good attitude and work ethic. If they compete to their abilities and have fun along the way, we will have a good season and be competitive in the KVAC and state meets.

“I expect in the boys that Lewiston, Mt. Ararat, Bangor and Brunswick will be solid in the KVAC, while in the girls look for Hampden, Bangor, Mt. Ararat and Brunswick.

Season opener — Aug. 30 at Laliberte Invitational at Cony High School in Augusta, 4 p.m.

Key dates — Sept. 26 (Lone home meet); Oct. 5 (at Festival of Champions at Belfast); Oct. 19 (at KVACs, Cony High School); Nov. 2 (at State A meet, Twin Brook in Cumberland).

Golf

Coach — Mal Strange.

2012 highlights — Lost to Oxford Hills in KVAC final after finishing 8-2 in the regular season.

Personnel lost — Brad Smith, Tommy Favreau, Nate Reny.

Personnel returning — Seniors Derek Devereaux (No. 1), Cam Heatley (No. 4); junior John Parker (No. 3); sophomore Ben Lord (No. 2).

Newcomers — Seniors Matt Brooks, Nick Zinni; juniors Henry Mathison, Andy Auclair.

Coach’s comments — “I have 18 kids out for golf, which is great, and right now I am trying to figure out where to play the kids in the lineup with regards to varsity and jayvee. What is great is that we have five girls out and getting into golf. However, I thought we had worked it out for the girls to play from ladies tees, but the league decided in a coed match that all players must hit from the men’s tees, which I don’t like.

“Derek Devereaux seems to have locked down the number one spot, but positions 2-4 may change throughout the season. They are that close!

“I’m looking for us to be in the middle of the pack this season. We don’t have much depth, but our top four players all play well.”

Team overview — Changes to the divisions in the KVAC has moved Brunswick into the Coastal Division, along with rivals Morse and Mt. Ararat. The teams are joined by Oceanside, Camden Hills, Lincoln Academy and Medomak Valley. And, scoring will change, as the top four of six varsity players will determine the team score and the victor in head-to-head matches, eliminating match play.

Season opener — Sept. 3, home against Oceanside, 3:30 p.m.

Key dates — Sept. 5 (H, Mt. Ararat); Sept. 9 (at Morse); Sept. 24 (at Mt. Ararat); Sept. 25 (H, Morse).