FALL HIGH SCHOOL Sports Report Team rosters Schedules Team Photos Stories A Publication of the Addison Independent • September 12, 2019 PAGE 2C — Addison Independent, Thursday, September 12, 2019 MIDDLEBURY UNION HIGH SCHOOL MUHS Girls’ Soccer By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — Coach Wendy Leeds’ Middlebury Union girls’ soccer team has been consistently competitive in recent years, but 2018 was an exception. A combination of heavy graduation losses and an unusually high number of injuries a year ago put a young Tiger team back on its heels in what proved to be a three- win season. The good news is that many 2019 than 2018. Doran, a sophomore, will probably sophomore Sophie Larocque are optimistic about the attack. Middlebury Union High School of those youthful Tigers gained “I always come into the season again line up in the middle. But the central midfielders, assuming “We’ve got some work to do Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team valuable experience, and Leeds Leeds would like to take advantage Doran doesn’t move up. Leeds said when it comes to finishing,” she assuming it’s going to be a step Coach: Wendy Leeds said they are back this fall to help of Doran’s playmaking ability at Larocque could also move to central said. “Having said that, there are forward,” Leeds said. “I think it’s Assistant Coach: Annie Wilson restore the program to normalcy, central midfield and could move defense, while Noble could sub in some people who can put the ball in safe to assume that.” Name assuming they don’t require too her up there, either as a starter or at center mid. Senior Alice Ganey the net, so we’ll be looking to target Grade much attention from MUHS during games, leaving room for and sophomore Hannah Turner are them.” Middlebury Union High School Carly Burger 12 Athletic Trainer Sarah Johnstone. sophomore Zoe Noble to step in at veteran returners at flank midfield, The Tigers’ regular season Girls’ Varsity Soccer Alice Ganey 12 “It’s definitely safe to predict that center back. where Leeds said freshman Cadyn schedule will not change, but the Date Opponent/Event Time Merry Kimble 12 we’ll look on paper better than last “We still have to sort out what Pitner will also see time. Vermont Principals’ association 9/6 @ Fair Haven 6 p.m. Annie Lapiner 12 year,” Leeds said. “We don’t have Ivy’s role is going to be. We look The ball movement from the has finally agreed that MUHS and 9/11 @ Mill River 4:30 p.m. Isadora Luksch 12 high numbers, so it’s definitely defensively stronger when she’s group is improving, Leeds said. other smaller former D-I teams in 9/14 Otter Valley 11 a.m. Isabella Pistilli 12 about staying healthy and making on the back line, but when she “The passing is coming along the so-called core sports of soccer, 9/17 Vergnennes 4:30 p.m. Gwen Stafford 12 sure we don’t have the rash of is playing up in the midfield she pretty well,” Leeds said. “They’re basketball and baseball/softball 9/20 Rice 4:30 p.m. Emma Franklin 11 injuries we had last year.” is distributing the ball well and starting to gel a little more.” should play in D-II and not just 9/23 Rutland 4:30 p.m. Mardi Horne 11 Many of those players return in 9/25 @ Spaulding 4:30 p.m. Rhys Pitner 11 making things happen,” Leeds said. Seniors Merry Kimble and serve as postseason fodder for 9/28 Milton 10 a.m. the back. Senior Carly Burger and Two juniors, Mardi Horne and Isabella Pistilli will start up front, much larger D-I schools. Julia Bartlett 10 10/1 Mt. Abraham 4 p.m. Ivy Doran 10 sophomore Julia Bartlett shared Rhys Pitner, will start at outside and freshman Lia Robinson will “I’m psyched to be in D-II again, 10/4 @ Vergennes 4 p.m. time in goal a year ago, and Leeds defense. Horne is a returning back them up. Senior forward which is where we really belong,” Sophie Larocque 10 10/9 @ Rice 4 p.m. Zoe Noble 10 said early on Burger earned the starter, and Pitner saw time there Isadora Luksch was injured in the Leeds said. “I feel like we have a 10/12 Spaulding 10 a.m. Hannah Turner 10 edge in playing time. a year ago. Junior Emma Franklin preseason, but will see time up top reasonable chance of actually being 10/15 @ Milton 4 p.m. Cadyn Pitner 9 Incumbent central defenders 10/18 @ Mt. Abraham 4 p.m. will spell them. when healthy. competitive in the postseason.” Lia Robinson 9 Gwen Stafford, a junior, and Ivy Senior Annie Lapiner and Leeds said she is cautiously Overall, Leeds expects a better MUHS Boys’ Soccer By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury Union boys’ soccer team is coming off another strong season — 11 wins — with a predictable end — a playoff loss to a Chittenden County powerhouse in the Division I playoffs. With many players back in the fold, another competitive campaign could be in the cards for Coach Reeves Livesay’s Tigers this fall. seven of them who can line up at Andy Giorgio will play key roles off “The most important thing for players that are willing to put in the MUHS Varsity Boys’ Soccer Team But the ending will be different, midfield. They include three-year the bench at midfield, Poduschnick us right now is to become more time and put in the effort.” He said. Head coach: Reeves Livesay one way or another: The Vermont starting center midfielders Eben both inside and on the flanks, comfortable communicating, so “And I think it is a team that could Assistant coach: David Turner Principals’ Association has finally Jackson and Owen Palcsik. and Giorgio in the middle, while we’re making on-field adjustments come together really well for the Name Grade agreed that MUHS and other smaller “We have a very strong midfield, sophomore Henry Carpenter can fill in the flow of the game. I think we postseason.” Spencer Doran 12 former D-I teams in the so-called Joseph Findlay 12 and we return a bunch of seniors in at any of the spots. have some really strong defenders. Anthony Garner 12 core sports of soccer, basketball all over the place. But a couple In the back sophomore Edwin They just have to have a little more Middlebury Union High School Eben Jackson 12 and baseball/softball should play in guys in the center of the field have Hodde is joining senior veteran time playing together to tighten Boys’ Varsity Soccer Liam Hamilton 12 D-II and not just serve as postseason played there a lot and have plenty Spencer Doran in the middle. things up,” he said. Date Opponent/Event Time Devon Kearns 12 fodder for much larger D-I schools. of experience and have done really They will line up in front of one On the attack juniors Owen 8/30 Colchester 4:30 p.m. Ethan Kent 12 Hunter Munteanu 12 “It’s nice not to have to play well there,” Livesay said. of two new goalies, senior Logan Connelly and Alex Bleich will 9/7 @ Mt. Anthony 11 a.m. teams (from schools) twice as big as Two more of those seniors should Pierson-Flagg or freshman Owen rotate in at striker. Livesay expects Owen Palcsik 12 9/10 @ Vergennes 4:30 p.m. David Peters 12 you,” Livesay said. start at flank midfield, Anthony Lawton. Juniors Wesley Hirdler and more offense from the midfield this 9/13 Rutland 4:30 p.m. Logan Pierson-Flagg 12 The postseason change does not Garner and Hunter Munteanu, but Antonio Abdul Sater are also in the season to complement his strikers’ 9/18 Essex 4:30 p.m. Frank Wolff 12 affect the Tigers’ regular-season Livesay was looking to freshman goaltending mix. production. 9/21 Missisquoi 10 a.m. Antonio Abdul Sater 11 schedule, which still offers the Oliver Anderson to line up as the Senior multi-year starters Devon “Ideally we’d like to push our 9/24 @ Spaulding 4:30 p.m. Abel Anderson 11 Alex Bleich 11 challenging Lake Division. Nor, third central midfielder with a more Kearns and Joseph Findlay return outside mids forward a little more 9/27 Milton 4:30 p.m. said Livesay, will it change the defensive orientation. on the defensive flanks. Junior Abel aggressively and really get some Owen Connelly 11 10/2 Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m. Andy Giorgio 11 Tigers’ main goal of reaching their Two more seniors will spell Anderson can back up outside, and good attack off the flanks. This 10/5 Vergennes 3 p.m. Wesley Hirdler 11 potential. the outside middies, Frank Wolff, Oliver Anderson could fill in for the would help open things up in the 10/8 @ Missisquoi 4 p.m. Oliver Poduschnik 10 “I think our goal every season is David Peters and Liam Hamilton, center backs. middle,” he said. 10/11 Spaulding 4 p.m. Henry Carpenter 10 just to be playing as well as we can and another, Ethan Kent, can back The group looked unsettled in In all, Livesay foresees a team 10/16 @ Milton 4 p.m. Edwin Hodde 10 at the end of the season,” he said. up there or at outside defense. the team’s opener, but Livesay said that will gel. 10/19 @ Mt. Abraham 10 a.m. Oliver Anderson 9 The roster includes 12 seniors, Juniors Oliver Poduschnick and time will iron out any kinks.