BATH

Chuck Reece is the new boys soccer coach at Morse High School as the Shipbuilders look to improve on a tough 2013 campaign. Golfers have come out to join Leon Oliver’s squad at Bath Golf Club, with 20 players hitting the links, and the early work paid off in a season-opening 9-0 win over Spruce Mountain on Friday.

Field hockey coach Stephenie Pinkham is looking for more offense from her squad, football kicks off on Friday at home against Oceanside, cross country hit the field running on Friday at the Laliberte Invitational in Augusta, while Steve Boyce’s girls soccer team has potential for a solid run this season.

Football

Coach — Jason Darling.

Last season — After a 3-5 regular season, fell to eventual Western B champ Kennebunk in the quarterfinals, 48-6.

Players lost — Liam McDonough, Cameron Malcolm, Trenton Moore, Michael Armstrong, Colby Wadleigh.

Players returning — Seniors Scott Petersen (RB/CB, three-year defensive starter), Josh McDougal (TE/CB, three-year defensive starter), Andrew Payson (G/DE, three-year defensive starter), Dylan Severt (OT/DT, threeyear offensive starter), Andrew Plummer (OT/DT), James Laser (WR/DE), Mike Poulin (G/DE); juniors Juwan Moore (OT/DT), Matt Belanger (RB/S), Justin Trottier (TE/LB).

Key newcomers — Juniors Cameron Santiago (OT/DT), Kyle Lavallee (C/NG), Tyler Barter (G/LB), James Lovitt (RB/LB); sophomores Connor Upham (QB/S), Raz Baltazar (FB/LB), Damon Osmond (WR/S), Dillion Havener (RB/CB), Tait Nygaard (G/DE), Tyler York (WR/CB).

Team overview — “We expect to be very competitive with everyone on our schedule, and our goals are always to make the playoffs and play our best ball at the end of the season,” said Darling. “We’d like to host a playoff game. It’s important to start the season with a win to validate all the hard work the kids have put in during the preseason.

“We have a great senior class, but we’re relatively young as a team. We’ll be relying on a mix of upperclassmen and sophomores. We’re bigger and better up front than last year, and we’ll look to lean on them early until the young guys can get their feet wet.”

Season opener — Friday at home against Oceanside, 7 p.m.

Key contests — Sept. 12 at Falmouth; Sept. 27 home against Fryeburg Academy; Oct. 3 home versus Gorham; Oct. 24 at Mt. Ararat.

Boys soccer

Coach — Chuck Reece, first season.

Last season — Went 1-12-1 under Andy Knox last year.

Players lost — Jacob Freeman, Galen Dubois, Jericho Adler, Nate Bonzagni, Chris Paulus, Oliver Kruze, Otto Klingspor.

Players returning — Seniors Garrett Robson (A/MF), Paden Stanton (D), Alec Beveridge (MF), Tristan Kiefer (D/MF), Wesley McKenna (GK), Kevin Thibodeau (D), Jake Haddock (GK), Austin Cowbell (D), Aidan McGowan (A), Trevor Drouin (MF/A), Keegan Landry (A), Ryan Munsey (GK), Kaleb Goodison (GK), Chase Terry (A), Sam Coffey (D), Max Lareau (D); juniors Tyler Young (D), Casey Bennoch (MF), OsKar Matero (MF), Chad Bonti (D), Jake Reno; sophomores Declan Hall (MF), Dakota Freeman (A), Colin McCarthy (A), Tucker Banger (MF), Lucas Brown (MF), Alex Fernald (GK).

Key newcomers — According to Reece, there are several freshmen in the fold, with 46 players in the program this year.

Team overview — “I’m looking at character and those willing to step up and help the young players,” said Reece. “All of these kids are hard workers. I expect them to give it their best every day. The biggest change is our gameday strategy. They are getting used to that right now.”

Season opener — Friday at Lincoln Academy, 7 p.m.

Key contests — Sept. 12 at home versus Oceanside (home opener); Sept. 26 home against Erskine Academy; Oct. 14 at Camden Hills; Oct. 17 at Oceanside; Oct. 21 home against Medomak Valley.

Girls soccer

Coach — Steve Boyce.

Last season — After a solid 9-3-2 season, fell to York, 5- 1, in Western B quarterfinals.

Players lost — Morgan Cram, Nichole Laggan, Paige Martin, Savannah Simmons-Grover, Anna Simmler.

Players returning — Seniors Alesha Aucoin (GK, Capt.), Courtney Estabrook (D), Leia Graves (D, Capt.), Lauren Pelletier (MF), Sophie Sreden (MF, Capt.), Miracle Trimble (F, Capt., 11 goals last year), Brianna Williams (A),. Micaila Barone (MF); juniors Madison Olsen (MF), Emma Rossetti (MF), Hope Faulkingham (D); sophomores Amanda Gagne (MF), Noa Sreden (MF).

Key newcomers — Freshmen Micailah Albertson, Emma Gould, Abby Minott, Marissa Parks, Sierrra Wallace.

Team overview — “It’s great to have experience along with some new kids, which gives us a lot of depth,” said Boyce. “We’ll be strong on either side of the field. We will need to grow in the midfield.

“Goaltender Aucoin is critical for our success. This is her second year as a starter, and she feels more confident in leading her team.”

Season opener — Friday at Lincoln Academy, 5 p.m.

Key contests — Sept. 9 home versus Mt. View (home opener); Sept. 19 home against Belfast; Sept. 23 at Camden Hills; Oct. 7 at Belfast; Oct. 16 home against Oceanside.

Field hockey

Coach — Stephenie Pinkham.

Last season — Lost several close games in a 1-13 season.

Players lost — None.

Players returning — Seniors Bryanna Ringrose (GK, made 294 saves last year, Allison Plummer (F), Kaylee Walker (Capt. F), Cat Sener (Capt., D), Bronwyn Morisssette (F/MF), Mallory Goodine (MF), Shira Gersh (MF), Julia Hart (F); juniors Asia DeRosby (Capt., MF), Molly Maurer (D), Christine Skroski (F), Kaylee Seekins (F), Marisa Rodriguez (MF); sophomores Brittany Kahler (F), KoraLei Fifield (D).

Key newcomers — Senior Shaw Pinkham (MF, transfer from Boothbay).

Team overview — “ We had a very successful Play Day at Winslow, with a win over Waterville and a tie with Spruce Mountain,” said Pinkham. “We have worked hard on the strong side and have figured some things out. We have put a majority of our efforts into the offense.

“I expect even more from Ringrose. Hopefully, our defense will be stronger and keep the amount of shots from getting through.”

Season opener — Friday at Lincoln Academy, 4 p.m.

Key contests — Sept. 13 home against Erskine Academy; Sept. 18 home versus Brewer; Sept. 25 at Spruce Mountain; Oct. 2 at Nokomis; Oct. 9 home against Winslow.

Golf

Coach — Leon Oliver.

Last season — Finished 1-11 last season.

Players lost — Dylan Crowell, Oliver Kruze, Kyle Perry.

Players returning — Seniors Andrew LaCavera, Matt Fontanez; juniors Wade Daigle, Noah Footer; sophomores Evan Parsons, Colin Bradford, Pat McKenna.

Key newcomers — Seniors Brandon Magliozzi, Ethan Brewer, Casey Watson, Dakota Jacobs; juniors Aydn Brillard, Kyle Simpson, Keegan McDonough; sophomore Everett Bates; freshmen Kevin McCoy, Gabe Bastien, Brandon Parone.

Team overview — “Last year, I had just 10 out for golf, so the numbers are better with 20,” said Oliver. “I am hoping for improvement. Going back to match play should help us. Last year, if they could have thrown away two or three holes a match, they were in it. I look for the players that struggled to break 50 last year breaking 40 this season. And, I have some golfers that I plan on working with to improve their games, especially the ones that are pretty ‘green.’”

Season opener — Opened this past Friday at Spruce Mountain.

Key contests — Today home against Maranacook; Sept. 10 at Erskine Academy; Sept. 17 home versus Gardiner; Sept. 22 at Lincoln Academy.

Cross country

Coaches — Dane Dwyer and Mike Rice.

Runners lost — Amy Franklin, Rachel Detwiler, Noah Lapointe, Aiden McGowan, Otto Werwaiss.

Runners returning — Seniors Maris Silvestri (Capt.), Morgan Quigg, Balt von Huene (Co-Capt.), Stephen Tapia; juniors Amelia Franklin (assistant Capt.), Maeve McGowan (assistant Capt.), Christopher Walfield (Co- Capt.), Sean Detwiler, Aaron Ouellette, Nathaniel Rines; sophomores Kelsea Albertson, Samantha Brown, Tyler Bodeen, Valur Farrar, Tanager Karchenes, Alex Wicks.

Key newcomers — Seniors Bronwyn Morissette, Ruth Nadeau; juniors Taylor Gagnon, Isabelle Paulus, Madison Savary; sophomores Tristan Merrill, Chipper Simpson; freshmen Whitney Durgin, Ben Hinds, Brady Leavitt, Jordan Leuteman, Paul Ouellette. .

Team overview — “We currently have 28 team members, 12 girls and 16 boys, up slightly from last year and a good even representation from each class,” said Dwyer. “The girls team returns four of the top five runners from a year ago and adds the pleasant addition of five very talented multi-sport athletes in the mix, along with incoming freshmen with three years of cross country experience.

“The boys will be led by Christopher Walfield, the second Maine high school finisher in the recent Beach to Beacon, and the return of varsity runners Balt von Huene, Aaron Ouellette and Nathaniel Rines. We have another dozen hard-working team members demonstrating the potential to contribute.”

Season opener — Opened Friday at Laliberte Invitational at Cony High School.

Key contests — Sept. 19 at Mt. Ararat; Sept. 25 at Brunswick; Oct. 1 home meet (only one of season); Oct. 18 at KVAC Championships.