Boys Soccer Preview

From Mike Ciulla, MHS Boys Soccer Coach

Won and Lost  Record: 28-5-1, Entering his 3^rd year of coaching.

Team’s experience level: Excellent. Five players could possibly be 3 year starters.

Key players lost to graduation: Crew Murphy, Tyler Kraszewski, and Alex Nolin .

The team will have a balanced attack between offense and defense.

Mechanicville is Class B.

Goal for the season: Win the WASAREN league to repeat as league champions. Then make a deep run in Sectional play

From Ian Lewis, Stillwater Boys Soccer Coach

Ian is coaching his 10^th year.

Team’s Experience Level: Last year’s young team had a season of growth. Players have matured and are eager to compete.

Key players lost to graduation: Zach Rychcik, defender.

Key returning players: All returning players key to our success.

Newcomers: Nate Berkery, forward;Jeff Hotaling, midfield;CJ McNeil, defender; and Harry Rubenstein, forward.

Team will have a balance of offense and defense

Stillwater is Class C.

Goal  for the season: Improve every day.

Football Preview

Pete Porcelli, Hoosic Valley Football Coach

Won and Lost: 27-17 in 5 years.

Key players lost to graduation: Nick Broderick-Miller ol-dl,Andrew Turriglio ol-dl, Abe Sanchez te-db

Dan Giordano rb-lb

Newcomers: Jacob White rb-lb, Chris Hunt ol-lb, Aaron Casella te-db, Jeff Moore. Rb-lb, Joe Leichenauer ol-dl, Jake Carrozza ol-dl, Ayden Barber Ol-dl, Isaac Carlo. Wr-k, Henry Madigan rb-db

Returning Starters: William Scofield rb-db, Matt Fusco rb-lb, Logan Smith rb-de, Ethan Caiazza qb-lb

Eric Smith ol-dl, Dominic Smith ol-dl.

Hoosic Valley will operate a spread, T, and double wing formation run dominant offense.

Defense: We Better be able to stop people.

Hoosic Valley is Class D.

Goal: We want to prove all the doubters wrong

Craig Cavotta, Mechanicville Football Coach

Won and Lost: 7-2, one year.

Key players lost to graduation: Cody Hayner (OL/DL), Keegan McHale (TE/LB)

Newcomers: Pete Enzien (WR/DB), Joseph Sanchez (WR/LB)

Mechanicville will operate spread and T offense.

Defense: Defense is a work in progress always trying to get better.  Need to stay healthy and tackle.

MHS is Class C

Goal: We need to stay healthy and play hard. Class C is very competitive.

Ian Godfrey, Stillwater Football Coach

Won and Lost : 15-4, entering his 3^rd year.

Key Players lost to graduation: Dan Morris, Jake Hickey, Mike Ahern, Nick Campion

Newcomers: Rhett Mercier C/ILB, Luc Lescault RB, Caleb Dyer RB/LB, Max Hems OL/DL

Offense will be spread power, run dominant. We return 8 of 11 starters from a team that ran for over 3,000 yards last year. Mason Seymour was a top runner in Section 2 and James Galarneau returns at QB.

Defense: We return 7 of 11 starters but have some big roles to fill. Linebacker is our most competitive position.

Stillwater is a Class C school.

Goal: Class C is a competitive classification and every game will be a test. We have to stay healthy and play together, if we can do that, the sky is the limit.

Girls Soccer

Stillwater Girls Soccer

Christine Ihnatolya has coached for six years.

Team’s level of experience: Losing just 1 senior, who was an integral part of our starting line up, I would say we are still highly experienced.

Key returning players: Brooke Pickett and Keelyn Peacock (Wasaren League 1st team All Stars last year).

Key player lost to graduation: Faith Sheehan, Sweeper

Newcomers: Sydney Wooddell-D, Lauren Conroy-D, Gianna Moraci-D,Brianna McLaughlin-D

Sydney Wayand-M/D (returning to play this year following an injury last year)

Will your team be more offense or defense oriented? It's hard to tell this early in the season.  We did a great job capitalizing on scoring opportunities this weekend.  However, defense is just as important as offense, so hopefully we are defense and offensively oriented.

Defense: I am confident our defense will do a solid job this year.

Goal: To have continued success following last years accomplishments.

Nicole Welcome, Hoosic Valley Coach

This is Nicole’s second year of coaching at Hoosic Valley. Last year she coached the Junior Varsity Girls Soccer team. This will be her first year coaching the varsity.

Team’s Experience Level: 13 returning players many were starters last year. 9 returning seniors. The team learned a lot from last season with many close games against highly skilled opponents.

Key Returning Players: Sophomore Casey Bugbee and senior Alex Rifenburg return this year to contribute once again to our midfield. Our top goal scores from the 2017-2018 season sophomore Samantha Dickinson and senior Lauren Reed return to create opportunities offensively. Our defense welcomes back seniors Jessica Espey and Renee Serafin for their last year as central defenders.

Key players lost to graduation: Lauren Paul – Goal Keeper ,Brianne Bogue – Midfield,

Caitlyn O’Neill- Striker , Emma Irwin – Defense ,Jessica Natter- Defense ,Julia Carlo- Midfield

Newcomers: Leigha Henkel (9^th Grade)- Midfield / Striker ,Sarah Magee (12^th Grade)- Defense

Sarah Sheldon (11^th Grade) – Goal Keeper

With multiple players able to distribute the ball through the midfield we will become more offense oriented. This year’s team has very skillful and speedy players up top to create opportunities.

Our defense works very well together coming from playing for many years growing up on the same teams. Most of the defense this year is returning from last year’s team as well. Our defense is able to adapt to any position they are placed in depending on the opponent’s offensive power.

Hoosic Valley is a Class C school.

Goal: Our goal is create and finish more offensive opportunities than we had during the 2017-2018 season. We have multiple offensive threats returning this year who can contribute to an increase in goals this season

Karl  Gertstenberger, Mechanicville Coach

Karl coached the boys varsity from 1999-2009. He has coached the girls from 2010 to the present.

Girls Won and Lost Record: 116-28-6

Val D’Alioa is starting her 2^nd year as co-coach.

Team’s Experience Level: We are returning 7 starters. I say above average in experience.

Key Returning Players: Senior Defender Quinlan Gowett, Juniors MF Jada Brown, GK Savannah Bowie, Forward Brynn Murphy, MF Hannah Garone;Sophmore Defender Ryleigh Hopeck; Freshman MF Nevaeh D’Alioa.

Key players lost to graduation: Mackenzie Bowie – Forward, Madalynn Garone – Midfielder, Lea Hickey – Midfielder, Mya Demarco – Defender

Newcomers: Patty Synder – Forward; Sophia Mastropietro – Defender; Madalyn Shakow: MF

Offense starts with a good defense so we will be defense oriented.

Our defense is a work in progress.

Mechanicville is a Class B School.

Goal: To win the WASAREN league and reach Class B finals.

Golf Preview

Tim Sheehan, Mechanicville Golf Coach

Tim is in his 6^th year of coaching as either an assistant, JV coach, or Varsity coach.

Team Level of Experience: We have only one senior, the rest are 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th graders, so we are very young.

Key returning golfer: Jacob Popiel, Anthony Fiacco Jr.

No losses due to graduation.

Newcomers: Everyone on the varsity should be a returning golfer.

How many on he roster: 6-8 varsity and 4-6 on JV

Goal: To have the young kids improve. Should have 2 or 3 make sectionals which would be a great accomplishment!

Notes: Anthony Fiacco Jr. has been working hard to improve his game. He has competed in many tournaments throughout the summer. He has gained valuable experience. Anthony and Jacob Popiel, who is returning after missing a year to injury, should form a great 1-2 combination!

Matt Lemoyne, Stillwater Golf Coach

This is Matt’s 5^th year of coaching golf.

Team Level of Experience: Beginner level golfers with the exception on one or two

Key returning golfers: Ryan Greene and Joe Pickett

Key golfers lost to graduation: Brady Cooper (last year’s number #1)

Newcomers: Logan O’Brien, 8^th grade

Total number of golfers: Five

Goal: Build on the fundamentals of the game and hopefully win 2-3 matches