Above: The T-Hawks season opener was a loss at Nashoba last year. They’ll hope for a better start this season, when they host the opener this Friday. (Image tweeted by ARHSAthletics)
ARHS sports kicks off this afternoon. And it looks like we’ll be able to watch one team’s home games without leaving town this fall.
Southborough Wicked Local ran some nice stories on three teams’ outlooks.
In late August, Gonk Field Hockey coach Dan Welty told the media he was chomping at the bit to get through tryouts and start the season. Part of that reason was a switch letting the team play home games at Southborough’s 9/11 turf field (instead of the school’s grass field):
“This is a huge opportunity to take advantage of in terms of speed,” Welty, whose team will be captained by senior forwards Lauren Speranzella and Grace Antonio, said. “It’s a totally different game. Look at a lot of the teams that are winning district and state titles, they’re playing on turf.
“I really want to achieve our passing game this year, especially on turf, and I’m planning on setting that tone right away in tryouts.” (read more)
Last week, SWL spoke to THawks Football Coach Justin McKay about this year’s prospects after last fall’s disappointment. The team ended strong, but its rocky start kept it out of playoffs. This season, McKay is welcoming back lots of returning players on offense and defense:
“We’re just trying to continue to grow and improve every day,” said McKay. “We have come a long way and the kids in the program want to see it continue to grow day by day. We are really trying to focus and build each step along the way to reach our ultimate goals.” (read more)
And Girls Soccer is sure to be hoping for another shot at the state championship. But Coach Scott Taggart says that’s not his focus:
“We don’t set goals about winning the league or winning sectionals — our goal is to get better every chance we get.” . . .
Last year, Algonquin broke through, reaching the Division 1 state title game where it ultimately fell to Needham, 3-1. In doing so, he was named New England’s Large School Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
Of the Tomahawks’ 16 returning players from last year’s state finalists that finished 21-2, 14 are seniors.
“We’ll have an experienced team, a mature team — that said, there will be younger kids that join the team,” [Coach Scott] Taggart said. “And that team has to mold as the season goes on, develop its own identity.” (read more)
Now, here are the ARHS varsity games on tap for the week.
Have a photo of your favorite team in action to share? Email mysouthborough@gmail.com. (Until then, expect to keep seeing pics from past seasons!)
To find a complete schedule of Algonquin sports, including JV and freshmen match ups, click here. Follow these links for the Assabet sports schedule and the St. Mark’s sports schedule.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
- 3:30 pm ARHS Golf vs. Wachusett Regional @ Holden Hill Country Club
- 5:00 pm ARHS Girls Soccer vs. Wachusett Regional @ Wachusett Reg. High School
- 5:00 pm ARHS Girls Volleyball vs. Nashoba Regional High School @ Algonquin
- 7:00 pm ARHS Boys Soccer vs. Wachusett Regional @ Wachusett Reg. High School
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
- 4:00 pm ARHS Field Hockey vs. Wachusett Regional @ Wachusett Reg. High School
Thursday, September 8, 2016
- 3:30 pm ARHS Golf vs. Nashoba Regional High School @ Juniper Hills Golf Course
- 5:00 pm ARHS Boys Soccer vs. Nashoba Regional High School @ Algonquin
- 7:00 pm ARHS Girls Soccer vs. Nashoba Regional High School @ Algonquin
Friday, September 9, 2016
- 3:45pm ARHS Field Hockey vs. Nashoba Regional High School @ Memorial Field (911 field)
- 4:00 pm ARHS Boys Cross Country vs. Advanced Math & Science Acad. Charter @ Algonquin
- 4:00 pm ARHS Girls Cross Country vs. Advanced Math & Science Acad. Charter @ Algonquin
- 5:15pm ARHS Girls Volleyball vs. Leominster @ Algonquin
- 7:00 pm ARHS Football vs. Nashoba Regional High School @ Algonquin
