Third Soccer Night In Belmont Set for Harris Field, Saturday, Sept 29

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Photo: The procession to the field

The Belmont High School Boys and Girls Varsity soccer teams will headline the third annual Soccer Night in Belmont on Saturday, September 29, joined at the event by hundreds of younger players from Belmont 2nd Soccer and the Belmont Soccer Association, their coaches, and other members of the Belmont soccer community.

Soccer Night in Belmont will feature a doubleheader under the lights at Harris Field against Middlesex League rivals Arlington: a Boys’ game at 4:30 p.m. followed by a Girls’ game at 6:30 p.m. 

Belmont youth soccer players will participate by parading out with players during the pre-game ceremonies, acting as ball-boys and ball-girls, and competing in mini-games on Harris Field during halftime of both games. Arlington Soccer Club youth soccer players will also participate in the pre-game ceremonies and other activities.

“This event showcases our varsity teams and recognizes the role of Belmont 2nd Soccer and BSA in nurturing the talent that makes up these teams year in and year out,” said event organizer John Carson. 

“We hope to exceed last year’s crowd of more than 1,500, and it will be a really fun night that builds bonds between our ‘little kid’ players and ‘big kid’ high school players, virtually all of whom came up through the Belmont youth program.  In fact, one great highlight is always that our high school players wear wristbands during the game that match the color of their Belmont 2nd Soccer team,” said Carson.

Admission to Soccer Night in Belmont is free. Concessions including pizza, hot dogs, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase, provided by Parents of Music Students (POMS) so families can come for the games and feed the kids at the same time.

Soccer Night in Belmont is sponsored by Belmont 2nd Soccer, Belmont Soccer Association, Belmont Savings Bank, The Rising, Phoenix Landing, with special thanks to Friends of Belmont Soccer (FOBS) and Belmont Athletic Director Jim Davis.

Belmont Volleyball Extends Record Winning Streak To 6, Tops Middlesex Liberty Division

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Photo: Waiting for the serve.
Belmont High School Volleyball continued its historic winning streak by defeating perennial league powerhouse Winchester, 3-2 (18-25, 26-24, 25-23, 18-25, 15-5), on Friday, Sept. 21 at the Wenner Field House. The Marauders’ (6-0-0) six consecutive victories to begin the season breaks a long-standing team consecutive win streak that stood at five. The win places Belmont atop the Middlesex League Liberty Division standings.

“This is the most mentally tough team that I’ve ever coached,” said Belmont Head Coach Jen Couture. “Teams like Winchester push us to play our best and that’s what we had to do to win that match. It was a team effort.”
“They aren’t afraid of making mistakes, but instead, learn and adjust. They understand that we’re going to lose points and sets but the most important thing is who wins the last one.  They have the will to win and escalate their game to match each opponent,” Couture said.
Couture pointed to the consistent play of Belmont senior co-captain Leah Babroudi throughout the match, who was 15 for 15 serving with 3 aces, and perfect on serve receive 21 for 21. 
“Leah was all over the place on defense, covering her hitters and keeping balls alive. She is one of the biggest competitors on the team and her energy on the court is contagious. She is so tough and never lets a missed dig get to her.  She just shakes it off and gets the next ball up,” said Couture, who captained Belmont in 2004.

The Marauders started off a little slow in the first, keeping pace with the Sachems until they pushed from 19-18 to 25-18 to close the first set. 

The second set was back and forth, with each team going on 3-5 point scoring runs including one by Jenny Vetrano to bring the Marauders to 24-18.  Vetrano was 18 for 18 serving with 1 ace. The Sachems sided out and Senior Captain Luna Colozzo went on a run of her own bringing the score to 24-24 before the Marauders could side out and finish off the set 26-24. 
The third set was also close throughout with the Marauders inching away later in the set to win 25-23.  As the match progressed, libero Sophia Estok continued to read Winchester’s hitters better and better making incredible digs (25 total).  Setter Mindee Lai also played superb defense and was second in digs with 17. 
Strong passes and smart hits by senior co-captain Jane Mahon (14 kills) helped the Marauders to get into a groove early in the fourth set, as they were able to side out on the first pass for the first 5 servers. However, a serving rotation error saw Belmont’s lead reduced from 10-5 to 8-6, which caused the team to lose momentum and eventually the set.

While it was too late to take back the set, which they dropped 18-25, they picked up enough steam to start off the fifth set strong.  Estok went back to serve and brought the Marauders to a 6-1 lead.  Clutch kills to by Nena Trifunovic (7 total, 4 of her last 5 swings being kills) kept the momentum going and the team never let up.  Finally at 11-5 Mahon went back to serve and finished out the match, ending the final set 15-5.

 

Belmont is back home in the Wenner Field House hosting Arlington on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 4 p.m.

In Match Of Unbeatens, Belmont High Field Hockey Sprints Past Winchester, 3-0

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Photo: Puppy pile for Belmont’s second goal with sophomore Emma O’Donovan taking the prize.

In an early season matchup of the creme of the Middlesex League Liberty crop, Belmont High Field Hockey provided Friday afternoon that team speed is dangerous for opponents as the Marauders ran past defending league champions Winchester High, 3-0.

“It’s all the 400s [meter] runs I make them do,” said Belmont Head Coach Jess Smith as her team, ranked 15th in the Boston Globe Top 20 poll, remains undefeated at 4-0-0 while Winchester, ranked 6th in the Globe poll, drops to 2-1-0.

“We knew we were good but to beat someone like [Winchester, which last year made the Division 1 North finals] makes it’s not just talking. The win makes it ‘legit,'” said Smith.

Senior co-captain and wing Morgan Chase, junior midfield Katie Guden and sophomore forward Emma O’Donovan scored in the first half as the Marauders kept the majority of possession for most of the first 30 minutes.

For Smith, the victory was a combination of her player’s quickness and their commitment to ball movement.

“I think our speed is killer,” she said. “We have athletic kids, we are super aggressive all over the field, and our passing is extremely good,” said Smith. “No one can run faster than a ball so if we can keep passing it up the field that quickly, we’re gonna get into the [scoring] circle faster than their backs.”

The Marauders’ team up-tempo pace showed as it took away passing lanes in the middle of the field. Belmont also took the majority of 50/50 balls as well as stealing the ball on man-to-man clashes with Belmont’s senior forward and co-captain Jordan Lettiere, the prime suspect in many of those heists. 

Along the back line, junior Meaghan Noone effectively shut down Winchester’s right side attacks. Junior Emma Donahue was once again a significant presence in the middle as sophomore Hayley Koenigsberg kept Winchester’s outstanding senior forward Claire Moloney-Kolenberg in check off the left wing in the battle of the great German/Dutch surnames.

“You just have to get psyched up, getting really low to stop their good girl. And I’m thinking about trying to get it back up to the midfielders,” said Noone. 

Quarterbacking the midfield, three-year varsity starter Guden’s stellar stick handling skills allowed Belmont to keep the pressure on Winchester’s midfield and backs.

“My game plan just get it in the [scoring] circle early, play as aggressive as I want to play, and look to pass it because it’s not a one-person game,” said Guden.

Junior Molly Calkins earned the solo shut out in her first varsity start as the Marauders’ goalkeeper.

“I was so nervous when [Smith] said I was going to start, I said ‘Oh no!’ But once we got onto the field, we all just worked together and communicated really well,” said Calkins who stopped four shots.

Smith and the team face a crowded week of games, four in five days, with an away game Tuesday at an excellent Lexington team the highlight. But for now, Smith is reluctant to change anything about the squad.

“We have this great lineup, the players work really well together, they’re confident and their speedy. That’s how we are going to approach every game, with confidence and speed,” she said.

Perfect Start Has Belmont Volleyball In Lead In Middlesex League

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Photo: Belmont Junior Libero Sophia Estok readies a serve vs. Woburn.

Four wins in as many matches to start the season has Belmont High Volleyball perched atop of the Middlesex League, reaching that height after defeating an always tough Woburn High squad last Friday, Sept. 14, at the Wenner Field House. 

It was a match to remember as the Marauders battled the Tanners in a closely contested five-setter, yet another close game in the history of the rivalry.

“After losing to them twice last season they were excited to take them on this season,” said Belmont Head Coach Jen Couture.  

The Marauders came out strong winning the first set 25-18, with a 10 point service run by senior Defensive Specialist Leah Babroudi and 4 solo blocks by senior Middle Hitter Audrey Quinn. 

Woburn made adjustments quickly and was able to take the second set 25-22, including an 8 point run of their own. 

In the third Belmont tightened the serves they received, never allowing Woburn’s servers more than 2 serves before siding out. Junior Libero Sophia Estok had an exceptional day passing and was 51 for 52 on serve receive, breaking her own single-match record.  Preventing the Tanners from long service runs allowed the Marauders to take third set 25-15. 

By the fourth set, Woburn’s middle hitters were in a groove, spiking and power tipping with dominance, often at junior setter Mindee Lai. Lai racked up 25 digs, the next closest being Babroudi with 13.  The Tanners took the set 25-19 – led by Woburn’s Tyliah Maldonado-Andre who ended the game with 21 kills – and it was on to the Marauders first fifth set of the season. 

After a quick side out, Lai extended Belmont’s lead to 3-0 before losing the serve. The Marauders managed to side out on the first serve for a full rotation, preventing Woburn from gaining momentum and slowly extended their lead.  Senior Outside Hitter Jane Mahon and junior Opposite Hitter Nena Trifunovic provided 10 and 6 kills respectively to finish off the Tanner. 

Mahon holds the career record for kills and is chasing the career blocks record.  While Jane is the most experienced hitter on the team, we still spread out our offense. 

While Couture points to Mahon – who holds the program’s career record for kills and is nearing the blocks record – as a team leader at the net, “we’ve never been a team who sets the same hitter every ball.  This year we have a lot of different types of hitters who can get the team kills.”

“Every game we begin with our cheer of ‘We play as a team. We win as a team’ and it’s never been more true, said Couture.

“We have the strongest setter and libero the team has ever had and that gives the team a solid foundation to build off of. Lai and Estok have been starters since their freshmen year when they began playing with senior captains Mahon and Babroudi,” said the Belmont coach. 

Having players that have already been through two full seasons together makes a huge difference, she noted. The majority of the starters from last year returned this year and have worked hard in the offseason.

“I think that’s the big reason we’re having such a strong start this year and I’m excited to see how far we can go,” she said.

With Top Teams On The Horizon, Belmont Field Hockey Rolls At Home

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Photo: White after Labor Day? For Belmont High Field Hockey, it’s très chic!

It’s said you shouldn’t wear white after Labor Day. There is one exception; when the Belmont High School Field Hockey team introduced its new all-white home kit during its first two home games in the 2018 season. The sleek unis with Parisian blue lettering and a menacing Marauder (grrrr!) on the upper back is a hit with fans and fashionistas alike. très chic!

Yet, it’s unlikely this year’s sharp outfit had any impact on the play of the girls as Belmont cruised to a pair of victories last week, defeating a strong squad from Stoneham, 6-1, and Woburn, 11-1, to improve to 3-0-0, earning a 17th ranking in the latest Boston Globe Top 20 poll.

“They are showing a lot of great skills, and they’re so positive,” said long-time Head Coach Jess Smith, who said this is likely one of the strongest 10 field player teams she’s put out on the pitch.

Smith said so far in the season, the impressive play – outscoring opponents 25-2 in three games – has not been generated by just one or two players but is an all-around team effort as seen by the scoring chart where the distribution of goals and assists is widespread and deep.

Against a much improved undefeated Stoneham team (coming to Harris at 2-0-1 with an eye-catching 2-2 tie against Lexington on its resume), Belmont wasted little time getting on the board, as quicksilver center forward Marissa Cecca dented the backboard of the Spartan’s goal just 30 seconds into the game. 

“I saw Katie [Guden] in the circle and called for it. I had a tight angle so I had to flip it by the keeper,” said Cecca.

Stoneham, led by senior midfield Paige Jordan, showed a growing level of talent over the past three years but Belmont’s midfield trio of senior co-captain Mia Kaldenbough, junior Katie Devitt and its leader junior Katie Guden frustrated the Spartan’s with their speed and stick handling skills as they quickly transitioned to Belmont’s front line headed by leading scorer senior co-captain Jordan Lettiere and her fellow co-captain four-year starter Morgan Chase. 

Stoneham kept the deficit to one goal until the final 100 seconds of the first half when sub-Cleo Theodoropulos scored from Lettiere with 1:39 remaining that was followed by Lettiere’s unassisted score with 47 seconds left. Chase, junior central defender Emma Donahue, and sub sophomore forward Emma O’Donovan scored in the second half. 

If there have been concerns they lie with penalty corners – a lot taken but a lack of results – and having its young goalkeepers –Molly Calkins and Morgan Moroney – get in-game action. 

“We were nervous [at the start of the season] because we lost a lot of talented players. But we have been really good because we communicate very well and watch out for each other. We’re all committed to winning,” said Cecca.

While the Marauders has feasted on the Middlesex League so far, Belmont’s 11 will be tested against the two strongest squads in the division. On Tuesday, Sept. 18, Belmont travels to Lexington whose 2-1-1 record doesn’t tell its overall strength. Led by senior goalkeeper Abbie Ortyl who verbally committed to Merrimack College, the Minutemen is looking to break the five-year lock Belmont and Winchester have held on the top spot for the Liberty Division championship. 

On the first day of summer, Friday, Sept. 21, Belmont hosts 2017 league champions, and #2 ranked Winchester to Harris Field. The Sachems, which squeaked by Lexington, 1-0, last Friday, will seek to avenge Belmont’s 1-1 tie at Winchester last season, the only blemish on the Sachems’ 17-0-1 undefeated regular season. 

Belmont High Football Upsets Top 20 Milton In Season Opener, 31-28 [VIDEO]

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Photo: Senior running back Rhaki Joseph gained 117 yards in Belmont’s upset victory against Milton.

The student section stormed onto the field after the post-game handshakes were completed to begin a raucous celebration for a Friday Night victory that was both well deserved and long awaited for the Belmont High Marauders.

There are those pundits who will roll their eyes hearing that a football team and its supporters had “gone crazy” after winning the first game of the season. There are an entire league and divisional schedules remaining in addition to the Thanksgiving Day game, they will say. “Don’t get ahead of yourselves!” 

The experts can say that all they want, just not to a team and coaching staff that demonstrated on last Friday Night the potential to take on top-notch competition … and come away on top. And it happened in Belmont against an opponent in Milton High School seen by many observers as heading to an early-December Super Bowl appearance. 

Three touchdown passes by junior QB Avery Arno in his first varsity start and a four-down defensive stance inside its own 10-yard line with less than a minute to play highlighted Belmont High School football’s exciting 31-28 victory over 19th-ranked ‘Cats in the season opener, Sept. 7. It was the first time a Marauder team defeated a top-20 team in … just about forever. 

In a game which Belmont came from behind three times, the Marauders’ held its composure and took back momentum each time to score and take the lead, including for the final time with less than 6 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Arno found WR Zach Hubbard in the end zone followed by an Avery (Aron) to Avery (Gartland) two-point conversion.  

It was a big night for Arno (11-22 for 117 yards with a single pick) and the Marauders backfield. Senior running backs Rhaki Joseph (117 yards) and Kilian O’Connell (65 yards) allowed Belmont to vary its offense with the pass and on the ground. Joseph’s touchdown in the second half saw the back sidestep the first wave of defenders, rounded the corner and outsprint three Wildcats 26 yards to paydirt. 

Receivers Hubbard (two TDs) and Jared Edwards (catching Aron’s first varsity pass for a 26-yard touchdown in the first four minutes) were able to stretch the Wildcat defensive backs almost at will. 

And while he had an extra point and field goal attempt blocked, junior kicker Hampton Trout hit a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter that provided the margin of the victory. 

It was the Marauder defense, much maligned over the years, that determined the game’s outcome with the defensive line and linebackers (coached by Chris Sywetz) holding Milton’s running offense in check by not surrendering a run of more than 15 yards. It was a game where the Marauders forced the Wildcats to convert third and fourth downs while forcing a lost fumble (recovered by sophomore FB/LB Ryan Santoro in an impressive debut) and a big-time fourth-quarter interception by junior veteran defensive back Justin Rocha which resulted in Belmont scoring the final touchdown. 

But it would be the final four plays by Milton with 125 seconds remaining that demonstrated within Belmont’s defense a maturity and attitude found in winning programs. Milton’s highly touted quarterback and leader Luke McMenamin drove his team to the Belmont 10. The Marauder front seven bent a little but did not break on the first two running plays. On third down, quick pressure caused a fumble pushing back the ‘Cats to the 7. 

Rather than kick a short field goal, the Milton coaching staff saw fit to gamble on fourth down against the Marauders. McMenamin felt he had a teammate open on the far left of the end zone but the presence of a Belmont defender caused a throw that was sailed out of bounds. Cue the students. 

On Friday comes the test of feeding off success as the Marauders travel on the MassPike to take on the Framingham High Falcons, the second non-Middlesex League team will play in consecutive years. It was a tough loss at home, 20-14, for the Marauders, one filled with mistakes and missed opportunities.

But the Marauders are not thinking about the past. They have seen what the future can hold.

Belmont High Field Hockey Firing On All Cylinders At Wilmington In Season Opener

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Photo: Belmont’s Jordan Lettiere scoring the first goal of the season in Belmont’s 8-0 win over Wilmington.

Belmont High Head Coach Jess Smith was nervous before the season-opening game at Wilmington on Saturday, Sept. 7.

“Are we really ready for this game?” worried Smith, remembering Belmont’s close 1-0 home victory against the Wildcats a year earlier. 

While Smith fretted as coaches will, her players spent the final moments during stick inspection discussing … llamas. “They’re sooo cute! But really nasty in person,” commented a player who got to see the South American pack animal up close during a recent school trip to Machu Picchu. 

“Do you believe them?” said Smith of her charges as they headed out onto the pitch. But being anxious is just Smith’s natural state before a match, be it against tough foes like Watertown or a weaker opponent during the season.

A little over an hour later, Smith was able to set her worries aside (at least until the next game) as her Marauders came out and dominated the host Wildcats, 8-0, to open the team’s 2018 account with a victory.

“I’ll take it,” said a pleased Smith, now in her 13th year coaching the team. “The team was an offensive machine today,” she said.

And why wouldn’t Smith be pleased? Her Marauders controlled all aspects of the game. On defense, Belmont shut down the Wildcat attack by clogging the passing lanes and using their collective speed – Smith credits three weeks of running 400-meter laps on the Harris Field track – to limit to just a handful of the times Wilmington crossed the midfield line. Led by juniors Katie Guden at center mid and Emma Donahue, center back, Belmont was able to quickly transition to offense.

“I was impressed how the defense and the midfield worked together to bring the ball into the [striking circle],” said Smith.

Offensively, Belmont used a combination of solid passing and slick, quick solo runs – by speedster Marissa Cecca, Guden and senior forward and co-captain Morgan Chase – to counter Wilmington packing 11 players between the ball and their goal. It took all of four minutes for the team to get on the scoreboard when senior forward and co-captain Jordan Lettiere beat the Wildcat goalie by her left pad to give Belmont the lead they’d keep.

Belmont would score three more in the first and four in the final 30 minutes with Guden bagging the hat trick, with Chase and Donahue putting in a pair, each scored in close and from just inside the striking circle (Chase’s long-distance goal came from a penalty corner passed to her by defender Meaghan Noone which can be seen on the video). Morgan Moroney and Molly Calkins each played a half in net and shared the shutout. 

Next up for Belmont is the home opener at Harris Field against Stoneham on Wednesday at 4 p.m. then the Marauders host Woburn at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14. 

Belmont High Volleyball Two For Two In Season Openers [VIDEO]

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Photo: Belmont’s Leah Babroudi at the net against Burlington.

Last year Belmont High volleyball’s young team squeaked into the playoffs with a .500 record than losing in the first round.

Now, with a year’s worth of experience under their belt and a familiarity playing as a team, Belmont’s Head Coach Jen Couture has high hopes for a strong run in the league race and for a post-season run.

And so far the team has not disappointed, winning its first two contests in the 2018 season; 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22) in the home opener over Burlington on Wednesday and a 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-15) whitewashing of Wilmington Friday.

In its game with Burlington – a semifinalist in last year’s Division 2 North sectionals – Belmont never allowed the Devils to run off long service games while countering with a complete game plan.

“We started off the match playing with confidence,” said Couture. “Burlington took a little while to warm up and really started getting into a groove in the third set which they inevitably took. In the fourth set we just focused on minimizing unforced errors, keeping everything in play and hitting smart shots. [Belmont] didn’t get shaken or down on themselves after dropping the [previous] set and bounced back to finish the match.”

Junior captain setter Mindee Lai set a new record for assists in a single match with 35.

“Mindee always gives 100 percent effort every match and does an excellent job setting up our offense. Burlington’s middle blockers really challenge our hitters to hit to smart spots and Mindee adjusts the sets to give hitters more time to hit around the block,” said Couture.

Senior Captain Jane Mahon led the offense with 11 kills (17 total in two games) and 6 aces. Mahon, who plays as the opposite hitter and middle blocker, also led the team in blocks with 6. She’s followed by junior Nena Babroudi with 10 kills and 5 services aces.

Leading from the back was junior Libero Sophia Estok who came up big serving in the fourth set along with her solid defense. In the two games, Estok has 36 defensive digs and 38 services received while senior Leah Babroudi has 14 digs and 24 services. 

Belmont Girls’ Soccer Leaves It Late In 2-1 Home Opener Win As Frosh Goalie Shines

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Photo: Ella Gagnon (21) scoring the equalizer vs. Wilmington.

It wasn’t the way freshman goalie Bridgette Martin wanted to start her first varsity game against Wilmington.

On the first ball that came her way, Martin – who admitted being nervous when the game got underway – hesitated for a second and saw it go behind her and tapped in by Jocelyn Palmer less than 30 seconds into the home opener on Saturday night, Sept. 8.

But that “oops” moment didn’t get the 9th grader down, just mad. 

“I got pretty angry after the goal and that anger fueled my adrenaline. It kicked in and it got me going to the ball hard,” she said. 

While her mistake put Belmont (2-0-0) behind the Wildcats (0-2-0) for nearly 70 minutes, Martin was superb the remaining 79 minutes, stopping three breakaway and a looping shot heading goalward to keep the match within one. That allowed the usual goal happy Marauder offense (it won its opener 11-0 over Burlington) to find a way by a disciplined Wilmington defense to score twice in the final 12 minutes to eek out a 2-1 victory at Harris Field.

“I really have to say Martin showed a heck of a lot of class,” said longtime Marauder Head Coach Paul Graham. And that effort was crucial, said Graham, “because despite dominating the game especially in the first half, we couldn’t find any way to score.” 

Not that the Marauders didn’t come close, including hitting the crossbar and seeing two through balls miss everyone in the six-yard box. At the other end of the pitch, Martin heroics was highlighted in the 23rd minute when she made a reflex save off freshman Alyssa Granara from 10 meters out then hurried back to the goal line to snag the rebound that was floating just under the crossbar.

The second 40 minutes saw Wilmington play a much tighter game and began controlling the ball with better success. One area that Belmont continues to take advantage was its physical play, continuing to knock Wildcats off the ball or winning possession with their speed. Senior center forward Ella Gagnon was a constant threat but Wilmington’s goalie Alyssa Morrison, in only her second varsity start, made her share of reaction stops. 

Just eight minutes into the second half saw Martin make the game-changing save as Wilmington’s Annie Wingate received a perfect pass to face the Belmont goalie alone eight meters from a wide-open goal. Closing the distance, Martin left arm got just enough of Wingate’s rocket shot to see it dribble pass the right post. 

“We practice these shots in practice a lot. Normally I close the girl down and see what I can do,” said Martin.

With the margin still at one, Belmont finally broke through with less than 12 minutes to go when senior left wing Morgan Krauss stayed wide and squared a perfect centering pass that Gagnon tapped in from five meters out. And just after the nine-minute to go mark, sophomore Jenna Thomas looped a shot that beat Morrison who was well off her line. Gagnon had a hand in preserving the win. With seconds remaining in the match, she jumped as part of the defensive wall and deflected a shot by senior Thea Alberti that was heading into the upper right corner of the goal. 

“Wilmington is a team that is always good and these are the teams that you have to beat if you want to go deep in the playoffs,” said Graham. “This win puts us on the map,” he said. 

 

Preview: 2018 Belmont High Field Hockey [Video]

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Photo: The 2018 Belmont High Field Hockey senior captains: (from left) Mia Kaldenbaugh, Morgan Chase, Jordan Lettiere.

Coming off a 12-2-2 regular season, Belmont High’s 2018 Field Hockey has high expectations for the coming season, as noted by the Boston Globe ranking the 2017 Middlesex Liberty runners-up 19th in its preseason poll.

Repeating as league champions in 2015 and 2016, the Marauders are looking to make the Division 1 North sectional playoffs for the 12th time in 13 years. Top competitors will include last year’s Liberty champs and North sectional finalists Winchester, Lexington and improving teams such as Arlington and Wilmington. And there will be the annual tussle with next-door neighbors and perennial Division 2 state champions, Watertown.