HOLDEN — Think of spirited high school sports team rivalries in the region, and you almost always conjure up Wachusett Regional High versus Shrewsbury High in matchups that build off the respective teams’ intense competitiveness.
Such has been the case for the Mountaineer girls’ varsity soccer team, which hosted the Colonials Oct. 6 seeking to avenge an earlier season 1-0 defeat.
Both squads remained scoreless into the second half, before Shrewsbury netted a pair of goals that would prove decisive in what was an energetic, playoff- feel contest.
“Our intensity’s ramped up because we felt that last time we played them, we were very reactive instead of proactive, so our goal this game was really to set the pace on our own dictating play by pressing hard and forcing errors,” said WRHS first-year head coach Emma Mailman. “That was our game plan today.
“I don’t think that the scoreboard really reflects the play. Our effort as the season goes reflects the confidence. I’m so proud of them. It’s tough to go down 2-0, but this team puts in a lot of effort.”
“After losing to them 1-0 we took that to heart and came back ready to go this game,” said senior Madison Grignon. “We always respect Shrewsbury because they’re our rivals. Every time we get a chance to play them, we want it to feel this competitive. We have a mix of pretty much every grade here. At practice, we’re all working together, giving 110 percent at practice, and that’s what coach expects from us. So we all give it our best effort.”
“I think we were all pretty much determined because we lost to them 1-0 last time we played them. So I feel like everyone’s energy was really up and we were really connecting offensively,” added senior Ashlyn Panerello. “We were working hard to get a goal, and were really trying to help each other.”
“Everyone puts in all their effort. We give it 100 percent whether it’s in practice or in a game,” echoed sophomore Kate Larose. “It’s important that we all do well as a team. Today we did a real good job working the ball up and getting our crosses in, getting it to our wide players. I think we’ve gotten better with that lately.”
Mailman, a 2016 WRHS alumna, is back to restore a winning culture to the program that has been absent since backto- back state championships in 2017 and 2018. Since her graduation from WRHS, Mailman has attended and graduated from Assumption University, where she played on the school’s soccer team and earned her master’s degree in business in 2021. She is presently an assistant soccer coach at Assumption.
One area on which she has placed emphasis is scoring. The green and white have found the back of the net elusive, and have kicked practices into high gear for the remainder of the season. The squad dropped its second, third and fourth games, losing all by 1-0 scores. The team’s record could have been 4-0 instead of 1-3 and made for an interesting playoff chase. With five games remaining, the Mountaineers are 2-6-2.
“In our last sessions, it’s been 100 percent focused on our offensive attack,” Mailman said. “We saw it tonight and had chances, but their goalie made some phenomenal saves with that weak side with her left hand. I’m confident that in the next couple of games, we’re going to put some numbers on the board.”
“I was nervous about some different factors, more off the field than on the field, but I haven’t faced them. I feel supported by parents, the fans and the team more than I could have expected,” she added. “I love being back here. I love this team.”
Members of the 2022 Wachusett Regional High girls’ varsity soccer team are Renee Rettig, Emma George, Kaitlyn Johnson, Wikitoria Ucher, Charlotte Brisbois, Ashley Slavin, Katlyn Perna, Kate Larose, Jesse Ayers, Madison Grignon, Brenna Patenaude, Alyssa Senecal, Aila Head, Syd Line, Kassidy Mcghee, Ava Giorgi, Rahma Giwa, Ashlyn Panerello, Molly Kelley, Jillian Beando, Ava Warner and Abby Lei.
