The accomplishments for Masconomet star Maggie Blosser felt like they had been countless final 12 months.
She scored an attention grabbing 34 targets, was an All-State choice and, most significantly, performed a large position within the Chieftains going unbeaten to seize a state title for the primary time since 1989.
The bevy of accolades may have discovered a solution to diminish Blosser’s aggressive urge for food as she entered her junior 12 months, however her relentless work ethic is once more driving Masconomet to a terrific season.
“Maggie doesn’t get to the place she will get by resting on her laurels,” Masconomet head coach Alison Lecesse mentioned. “The cat’s out of the bag. She’s an exceptional participant and no person can declare to not know this anymore.”
Blosser feels the highlight shining brighter on her this season, which grew even greater when she dedicated to Maryland alongside her twin sister, Lily, in August.
Opponents mark her harder than in years previous as Blosser has realized the way to deal with the additional consideration.
“It’s positively a whole lot of stress, however I really feel prefer it’s one thing that I’ve gotten used to,” Blosser mentioned. “It’s one thing I’ve had on my again for nearly my entire life. So, I really feel like I’ve gotten used to adapting, like, ‘OK, if a staff’s going to place two gamers on me, I’ll simply discover the open participant.’ ”
In a means, Masconomet is asking Blosser to do extra this fall. She performed striker for the primary time final season, however on account of turnover on protection and accidents elsewhere, Blosser has performed in every single place besides goalie via 12 video games.
Blosser, who has recorded eight targets and 6 assists, is utilizing her elite playmaking capability and excessive soccer IQ to gas the Chieftains whereas additionally filling the void of her sister, who starred within the midfield however is out for the season on account of a torn ACL.
“It appears like part of me is lacking, the place we’ve performed collectively our entire lives,” Blosser mentioned. “We all know how one another play out and in. We work tremendous effectively collectively. … Clearly, she was an enormous a part of our success final 12 months and it’s positively been onerous (with out her).”
Blosser skilled a primary with Masconomet when it dropped its season opener to Marblehead, which was the primary regular-season loss for the Chieftains since 2021.
Masconomet drummed up the proper response, although, successful 10 out of its final 11 video games, together with outscoring its final 5 opponents, 23-0. The Chieftains appeared to observe the lead of Blosser to get again on observe as Blosser did what she does finest, which is simply persevering with to work as onerous as ever.
“Having that fireplace is one thing we’d like,” Lecesse mentioned. “So, we’re joyful to embrace that.”
Winchester blocks out noise
The Winchester women staff is having one other sturdy marketing campaign with an 8-2-1 document. It’s much more spectacular contemplating the upheaval this system went via at the beginning of the season.
Head coach Michelle Ross resigned from her submit Aug. 26 after outdoors criticism reportedly arose that she intentionally left off gamers on the varsity staff to make room for a number of underclassmen on the roster. She additionally was alleged to have bullied not less than one participant, however all allegations had been deemed to be unsubstantiated and he or she returned to the Winchester sideline Sept. 8 after lacking two video games.
Ross credited her gamers’ resolve to persevere on the sphere regardless of coping with a serious distraction.
“I’m not shocked, given the staff’s character and character that I’ve seen to this point,” mentioned Ross, who’s in her second 12 months on the helm and is the primary feminine coach in program historical past. “In case you would ask me if it had been another staff, I’d say I’m completely floored. Not having actually a coach for 2 weeks I feel may have actually set them again.
“They did this. They had been working their very own practices for greater than every week via all of this and so they needed to actually filter out the noise in order that they had been capable of deal with themselves and the staff.”
Winchester senior captains Amanda Mitchell, Gabby Hermsdorf, Juliet Semmes and Lilly Ossen helped information the Purple and Black via that state of affairs and to 2 marquee wins over Lexington.
Ossen netted the one purpose within the first matchup towards the Minuteman, a feat because it was the primary tally Lexington surrendered after beginning the season with six straight shutouts.
“They lead with superb grit and dedication and are capable of get the most effective out of every participant,” Ross mentioned.
Rockets hovering
A 2-2 document during the last two weeks for the Needham boys doesn’t inform the total story. The Rockets went up towards the state’s iron and got here out of it with noteworthy outcomes.
Needham suffered 1-0 losses to three-time defending Division 2 state champion Oliver Ames and Bay State Convention foe Weymouth, whereas additionally handing St. John’s Prep its first loss and defeating Newton South, 1-0, this previous Saturday.
The Rockets had been particularly examined towards the Lions when goalie Will Midday made an early save on a penalty kick earlier than Needham held off a fierce cost following Conor O’Brien’s purpose halfway via the primary half.
“It sort of proved what we’re able to doing towards good groups defensively,” Needham head coach Jimmy Odierna mentioned. “(It additionally) compelled us to make some modifications to deal with their changes.”
