Berlin Head Coach Gary Boucher is disappointed with his team's 3-8-0 record so far this season, but can't help but to be pleased with his team's effort and cohesiveness as a unit.
"With two first year goalies on our squad, one girl never played before and one girl who only practiced for 5 weeks last year, it was expected to be a difficult time keeping the pucks out of our net," commented Boucher.
Stalwart defense from Whitney Belanger and Cheyenne Lessard has helped the lady Mountaineers' cause on defense, but the team has also been exposed by low scoring production. Coach Boucher points to great production from Cassie Martin, Sam Hallee, and Trisha Falardeau, but admits that the production drops after those four players. It should be noted though that the team has scored 7 goals on three separate occasions this season, and tallied six in a hard fought loss against Concord at the beginning of the season.
"Despite our record, our goals are the same. Play hard, smart hockey, and try to win games," stated Coach Boucher.
The Mountaineers will take on Lebanon on Tuesday, and Coach Boucher expects to continue to play hard while hoping to see more scoring from his offense.
"With two first year goalies on our squad, one girl never played before and one girl who only practiced for 5 weeks last year, it was expected to be a difficult time keeping the pucks out of our net," commented Boucher.
Stalwart defense from Whitney Belanger and Cheyenne Lessard has helped the lady Mountaineers' cause on defense, but the team has also been exposed by low scoring production. Coach Boucher points to great production from Cassie Martin, Sam Hallee, and Trisha Falardeau, but admits that the production drops after those four players. It should be noted though that the team has scored 7 goals on three separate occasions this season, and tallied six in a hard fought loss against Concord at the beginning of the season.
"Despite our record, our goals are the same. Play hard, smart hockey, and try to win games," stated Coach Boucher.
The Mountaineers will take on Lebanon on Tuesday, and Coach Boucher expects to continue to play hard while hoping to see more scoring from his offense.
It's no secret that it has been a long road for Souhegan Head Coach Ken Dicredico this season. His girls' team is 0-11 and has given up 10 goals for every one that they've scored. But despite the team's troubles, Coach Dicredico maintains a positive outlook on his team's season.
"Last year our team had a total of four goals. We've scored 9 goals already this season," explained the coach. He also points out that three of his players have scored the first goals of their careers this season: Holly Bourassa (junior, forward), Audrey Biggers (junior, forward), and Rachel Puppolo (senior, forward). Sadly for Rachel Puppolo her first goal will also be the last of her high school career. The senior captain was knocked out for the remainder of the season by a concussion sustained in Souhegan's game against Bishop Guertin on January 9.
Another silver lining for Souhegan is that many of his players' younger siblings in middle school have started to pick up the sport. For Dicredico the roster has always been a numbers game, and has been perhaps the coach's biggest challenge with the lack of any local feeder programs to tap into.
"Last year our team had a total of four goals. We've scored 9 goals already this season," explained the coach. He also points out that three of his players have scored the first goals of their careers this season: Holly Bourassa (junior, forward), Audrey Biggers (junior, forward), and Rachel Puppolo (senior, forward). Sadly for Rachel Puppolo her first goal will also be the last of her high school career. The senior captain was knocked out for the remainder of the season by a concussion sustained in Souhegan's game against Bishop Guertin on January 9.
Another silver lining for Souhegan is that many of his players' younger siblings in middle school have started to pick up the sport. For Dicredico the roster has always been a numbers game, and has been perhaps the coach's biggest challenge with the lack of any local feeder programs to tap into.
