A senior-laden Barrington High School girls' soccer team takes to the pitch this season with the goal of improving on a 5-9-6 Division-One record of a year ago.
The Eagles' record, which included nine matches in which they failed to score a goal, left them in eighth place, two tantalizing spots away from the division's final playoff position. During one stretch, about midway through the season, Barrington won just one of nine games. The players and head coach Steve Pickford most assuredly will be out to try and make amends for a disappointing season.
"We're certainly a better team than the record indicates," Pickford said. "We just have to put the ball in the net. We'll be deep. We're very experienced. The kids are excited and we'll try to build on that."
Barrington's 21-player roster includes 14 seniors, a dozen of whom played last season. Heading the senior list are co-captains Amanda Pacheco and Julie Bilodeau and classmate and second-team, All-Stater Alex vonGerichten. All three players were midfielders last season.
Bilodeau gained the most notoriety as she rocketed home nine goals, made first-team, All-State and in one game, received a concussion and needed 20 stitches to close a head wound.
"I expect a big season from Julie," Pickford said. "I think she's ready to step up to the challenge."
Barrington's midfield depth, which includes seniors Lauren Mulligan, Ariana Raufi and Pacheco, will enable the coach to move Bilodeau to forward where she will sometimes join fellow striker Amy King.
"I expect us to be able to put the ball in the back of the net more. By putting Julie up front it should open up some opportunities for us," Pickford said.
While the coach seeks more scoring, he's confident he has the right players in position to stop the opposition from doing likewise. He's counting on seniors Casey Peck and Margaret Bauer to lead the defense in front of goalkeepers Ana Lowry and Jessica Fadale.
Barrington will be playing in a newly-realigned, Division One-North this season. For the most part it will face the same foes in a home-and-home series as a year ago. It also will play each of the six teams in Division One-South once for a total of 16 regular-season games.
With the regular-season shortened by four games compared to last year, the Eagles, as well as all the other squads, can't afford to go on any extended winless streaks. If they do, they most likely won't make the playoffs.
Barrington opens the regular season tomorrow, Sept. 2, with a 3:30 p.m. match at Cumberland. The Eagles' home opener isn't until Tuesday, Sept. 14 when they play three-time defending state champion LaSalle in a 4 p.m. contest.
BARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' SOCCER 2004
Division One-North
Graduation losses — Brenna Millard, Chelsea Converse, Jackie Hurley.
2004 returnees — Seniors: Alex vonGerichten, Julie Bilodeau, Lauren Mulligan, Margaret Bauer, Ariana Raufi, Mary DiRienzo, Ana Lowry, Amy King, Katie Halloran, Casey Peck, Lucy Brock, Amanda Pacheco. Juniors: Sharron Katz, Katie Bilotti, Katie Giuliano.
2004 newcomers —Seniors: Carly Allard, Stephanie Greenstein. Junior: Molly Hagan. Sophomores: Courtney Neves, Tira Hanrahan.
Head coach: Steve Pickford.
2003 record: 5-9-6, eighth of 11 in Division One.