Girls Soccer Team Looking To Return To Greatness

If the weather cooperates, the King Philip girls soccer team will open the season September 7 against Austin Prep in Wrentham, hoping to once again qualify for the state tournament.

The Warriors, under Coach Greg Massotti, had previously possessed championship-quality teams, but KP has found itself in a downward slide over the past few seasons.

After going 6-6 and earning a 20 seed to move into the tournament three years ago, the Warriors have not been invited back to postseason play. Although the local team did graduate a hefty number of seniors from last year’s squad, Massotti believes they’ll be better this fall.

“We lost a bunch of seniors; however, not all of them were starters,” the coach said. “The majority of our better players from last year’s team were younger athletes, which bodes well for this year’s team.”

The Warriors seem to be very solid up the middle, beginning with sophomore sweeper Audrey Foxx. As the team’s last line of defense, the second-year varsity starter is a tremendously skilled athlete with a lot of pressure riding on her play.

“Audrey started for us as a freshman — that there says a lot about her make-up,” Massotti said. “If we are to be successful, it’s going to rely on her. It’s all on her shoulders.”

Following Foxx will be newcomer Rachel Palumbo at stopper, and junior captain Jane Bingel and sophomore Hayley Keegan in the middle. With Bingel as the best player in the midfield and Keegan the most improved, the two have pretty much controlled their area of the field in the early goings.

Senior goalie Jill Valente had the position between the pipes as her own until junior Emily Hehn came on the scene and began pushing her. With the duo both playing exceptionally well thus far, Massotti plans on going with the two keepers until one fully emerges.

On the offensive side of the field, striker Rachel Patten is the only true returnee with any experience. As the most physical and explosive individual the coach has seen in some time, Patten looks to be the team’s top scoring threat.

Playing the outside midfielder positions will be senior captain Hailey Mullen and senior Katie Brennan. Caitlyn Croke (right) and Abigail Anderson (left) will patrol the field as outside defenders. Anderson is up from the junior varsity squad and, if the Warriors have a weakness on defense, it’s going to be on the left side.

“If teams are going to beat us, it’s most likely to be here — not because Abigail isn't good, but because she lacks that varsity experience,” the Warriors coach said. “As a coach, this is where I would attack. Nothing against Abigail, as she has been a pleasant surprise so far.”

One other Warrior athlete who will definitely see time on the field is forward Khelsey Silverhorn. Massotti knows that his team can defend just about anyone, the unfortunate question is: who is going to be the one to put the ball behind the opposition’s goalie?

With a lack of scoring, King Philip fell to fourth place in the Hockomock League large division last year. Massotti is hoping that his team can find the individual(s) to take up the bulk of the scoring and return the Warriors to the championship years.

“Franklin is still the class of the league, with Mansfield in the number two spot,” the coach said. “North Attleboro, Attleboro and ourselves follow. Our goal is to get our the lower tier and crack the top two.”

Following the Austin Prep contest, KP will remain home for another three matches, including Franklin and Mansfield. If the Warriors can come out of the home stand with a .500 record, Massotti would be happy. Anything above that, he said, is outstanding.