By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women’s soccer team begins a new era when the 2014 season opens next month.
Yasmina Carvalho of Brockton, a three-time All-Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference selection for the Bears before graduating in 2010, has returned to her alma mater as the program’s seventh head coach.
“At first, obviously you get some nerves and it’s kind of weird coming back and being a coach,’’ said Carvalho, a former assistant at Stonehill College and UMass-Boston. “Once I got the first practice under my belt, it was like being home.
“I’ve wanted to coach for a long time. Coming into my first season, I know my expectations and I plan on applying them. I am really excited and can’t wait to get started with our first game.’’
BSU starts its season on Sept. 2 with a non-conference matchup against Babson College at Swenson Field at 7 p.m.
The Bears went 9-9-2 last season under coach Lou Verrochi, who has retired, and swept through the MASCAC tournament to advance to the NCAA Division III tourney for the first time since 2003.
BSU, which was 3-2-2 in the conference, returns 18 players from a team that lost to 13th-ranked Middlebury, 5-0, in the national tourney.
The key losses from the Bears roster includes leading scorer Erica Jonasson (16 goals, including five game- winners), goalkeeper Kerry Condon and defender MaryRose Griffin of Whitman, a first-team All-MASCAC selection.
The top returning scorer is junior Mackenzie Hatfield of Whitman, a second-team all-conference choice who had nine goals and 10 assists last season after leading BSU with 23 points as a freshman (eight goals, seven assists).
“Mackenzie definitely has a little bit of a target on her back,’’ said Carvalho of MASCAC tourney most valuable player. “When you have so many points, that’s the first thing coaches look at. That’s a dangerous player you want to be aware of.
“I think she can handle it. She’ll have no problem having that type of pressure on her with other teams gunning for her. She has such a strong team around her. If they do tend to just focus on her, there’s going to be someone else on the field who is going to create a problem for the other team.
“We have so many other girls who are high in talent and skill and can create trouble for other teams.’’
Another Whitman-Hanson Regional High product, junior Bridget O’Leary, figures to be a key player for BSU. O’Leary is recovering from a knee injury suffered in the spring, and Carvalho said she can provide help at a variety of spots.
“Bridget O’Leary is a huge asset,’’ said Carvalho. “I’m trying to figure out where I want to put her. She’s huge wherever she plays. She creates production.’’
Condon was limited to nine games in goal last season because of an injury, and her replacement may be either junior Emma Titus, who played four games, or Plymouth residents Meghan Walsh or Courtney Banzi, both of Plymouth.
The defense should be effective with returning players Allison LeBel, Ashley Aldred, Carolyn Sessler, Olivia Planty and Brooke Pacheco.
Sophomore Amanda Leite will be at midfield with Courtney Pepin, Julia Karacius and Emily Herrick up front.
“Leadership will be huge for us,’’ said Carvalho. “We have 11 juniors and three seniors returning. Our leadership is going to step up a notch. I’m looking for good team chemistry. We didn’t lose that many players.
“We’re trying to find that team chemistry. If you don’t have that bond, you can have the best 20 players in the world, but if they can’t bond, it’s not going to work. I’m definitely optimistic.’’
Click Here for MASCAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll Results (PDF)