![]() 1, too.Īfter narrowly missing out on the Southeast Conference crown last year, the Hilltoppers already have the edge on Dartmouth with a 9-1-2 record. ![]() With a new level of intensity and drive, Durfee has a good chance to make some noise in Div. “As long as we don’t get ahead of ourselves … our hope is obviously to keep winning.” “We are running with pretty much the same squad for three years,” Martel said. Only one player has graduated from an experienced group over the last two seasons, and the latest MIAA power rankings reflect Case’s hot start by pinning it at No. Lexi Yost, Megan Smith and Shelby Hajder lead a potent attack averaging over five goals per game, while Michaud and senior defenders Kaelyn Lecomte and Rylie MacDonald have led six shutouts. Looking to repeat as South Coast Conference Gold champions for a third straight year, the Cardinals are 10-0 and serious contender in the Div. It’s only fitting then that when Case has its best start ever under Martel, Durfee does the same for Henrique in her 10th year at the helm. … It’s just really competitive and fun, and it’s been so great to have that with them.” “Some of the girls on my team, they’ve been asking me all season, ‘When are we going to support (Michaud) and Case,’” Henrique said. No matter which angle, quite a few of the players are close. It could be that Case goalie Anna Michaud started pretty much every one of Durfee’s summer league games as the Hilltoppers’ goalie dealt with illness, and that served as a bridge for more interaction. It could be pinpointed to growing up in the same area, playing club and recreational sports together. We never invite our significant others to dinner because they probably wouldn’t want to be there.” … It’s funny to hear us talk because we don’t talk about anything else literally the entire time. ![]() “As a coach, you internalize losses and ties, and, ‘What could I have done better?’ She was great for that – just vent, talk. “We always just kind of fed off each other,” Henrique added. We always try to scrimmage each other, support each other.” … We’re definitely always rooting for each other. ![]() “We bounce ideas off each other, or we’ll vent to each other, things like that. “She’s just kind of been my go-to,” Martel said. Henrique especially has a rooting interest in the Cardinals and its players as a coach for the softball program, as well as through graduating from Case herself. But through years and many dinners of venting to each other over tough losses, rehearsing practice ideas, giving scouting reports on teams they both play, and coaching together at the Bay State Games, the two have built a close bond. Case head coach Kacie Martel and Henrique have known each other long before Martel took over her program eight years ago, as the two played in an adult club league together. It starts with their coaches, who have built the kind of relationship that doesn’t go a single game without texting or calling one another about what went down. But without the same conference or division, and with the significant ties between them, the two are as close as it comes to the phrase. To call Case and Durfee sister programs would be a bit of a stretch, considering they still scrimmage each other and could very well meet in the regular season someday. “They go, ‘Coach, can we go say hi now?’ … It’s really cute, they’re really supportive of each other.” “I was literally still talking to them,” Henrique said. Postgame, Durfee didn’t want to only celebrate with teammates.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |