HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS RETURN
First day of practice a small step toward normalcy
As the first day of soccer tryouts began, new Hingham girls coach Sarah Dacey could hardly contain her excitement.
On Friday afternoon, the Harborwomen were one of a number of soccer programs to start tryouts as the fall 2020 MIAA season finally launched across Massachusetts after a month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tryouts for fall sports usually begin the third week in August, but the MIAA Board of Directors pushed off the start of sports until Friday as schools delayed reopening. While athletics could begin on Friday afternoon, schools classified as ‘red’ based on the prevalence of COVID-19 in their district by the Department of Public Health were prevented from beginning sports until further notice. Other districts have elected to delay fall sports so they have more time to prepare.
“It’s exciting. We’ve been excited to get started,” Dacey said of the anticipation leading into Friday. “Everyone was in great spirits, positive, and ready to go.”
For Dacey, Friday was not just the start of the fall season but also the start of her first year as head coach at Hingham. Overseeing nearly 60 girls, Dacey ran a socially distant tryout with all players wearing masks while showcasing their skills for the former University of North Carolina national champion. Dacey most recently was the head coach at Barry University, where she compiled a 45-15-1 record.
Even though there will be no state tournament this year, the expectations for Dacey in her first year are still high. Olivia Sharkansy is back one season after scoring 10 goals, while Ava Maguire, Sophie Reale, and Alexa and Ava Varholaky promise to be key contributors. Each school in the Patriot League plans to play an 11-game regular season schedule before participating in a double-elimination postseason tournament.
“I was able to get to know the girls the last couple weeks,” Dacey said. “They’re a great group. They’re very talented. Now it’s just about creating that mentality of how badly do we want to go out there and win and compete in a year where we’re all very grateful just to have the chance to take the field.”
Hingham wasn’t the only place getting back to action Friday.
North Andover boys soccer coach Kyle Wood admitted he was worried his team’s season wouldn’t come to fruition because of the pandemic.
But Wood and his players hit the field for a first practice that featured fewer jitters than in previous seasons.
“Typically on the first day of practice, there are a lot of nerves, we have a lot of kids trying out for the team and kids are worried about making the team. This year was a little bit different,” Wood said. “I felt like a lot of the boys were just happy to be there and to see one another. It was nice.”
For the Bishop Feehan girls soccer team, it was its first time back together for a practice since it captured the Div. 1 state title last November.
With most of the squad returning from that run and led by the program’s all-time leading scorer, Francesca Yanchuk, Feehan was pleased to get back onto the field even though they won’t get a chance to defend their state crown. Feehan will participate in the Catholic Central League for the first time this season and look to continue its success there.
“It was great to get them out there,” said Shamrocks coach Phil Silva. “As much as they are not perfect conditions, I thought the session went real well. Just excited to be out there as a group and the intensity level was really high, which is great for us.”
While John Barata’s Oliver Ames boys soccer team got to work as well, they did so trying to adjust to new modifications put in place by the MIAA. There will be no heading, throw-ins or intentional body contact among the many rule changes for this season.
But the modifications couldn’t dampen the thrill of starting a new season.
“Once I got back out there with the guys, the excitement just sparked again,” Barata said. “It was awesome.”