The Patriots enter year two under head coach Nicole Sauer. BENNINGTON — The Mount Anthony girls varsity soccer team enters with the tools necessary to make some noise in Division I this fall. The Patriots have the experience, highlighted by a quartet of four-year varsity players.
Equally important is the stability of the coaching staff – something the seniors have not had the luxury of in their high school soccer career until this year. Nicole Sauer is back on the sidelines for year two leading MAU, along with assistant Jeremy Neill. Sauer’s hire last season marked the third different coach in as many years for the program.
“Part of our mission was to provide some consistency for the girls,” Sauer said. With a roster full of experienced soccer players, the Patriots are hopeful that some continuity not only on the field, but on the sidelines, will lead to success. “I think it’s really helpful because they’ve already spent a year with us, and I think it’s going to help the team play better in season,” said four-year starter Roey Rella-Neill, one of the Patriots’ two captains.
“Because we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses more, and the coaches know how to work with that.” Mount Anthony senior co-captain Roey Rella-Neill looks the ball onto her foot during a Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 practice in Bennington.
Rella-Neill is one of four Patriots with four years of varsity experience. Along with the technical adjustments, fellow senior Abby Sekora said it motivates the players to put their best foot forward “Having that security of knowing that your coaching staff isn’t going anywhere and they’re here to build a program that’s going to last, makes it easier to work hard and it makes it easier to buy into the program,” She said. “You know that you’re growing the program for the future.
” Continuity is a concept this Patriots team knows well. The seniors have been playing organized soccer together since the fourth grade. Over the past three seasons, MAU has amassed a record of 19-23-2.
With more than 40 career varsity games under their belt, the Patriots seniors have been working toward this season for years. They know where their teammates are going to be on the field, a kind of trust that isn’t built overnight. “I think it’s so special to have such a good connection with all the girls,” senior Alicia Harrington said.
“It really shows on the soccer field how we play and that we’re so comfortable.” Artie, a Black Mouth Cur, overlooks the Mount Anthony girls varsity soccer practice on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
Artie serves as the team's unofficial mascot. The Patriots also boast a strong junior class, with Madison Brimmer, Ella and Fiona Palisano, Lucy Poole and Emily Tibbetts back for another season. Ella Palisano is co-captain with Neill, and should play a crucial role in MAU’s defense this fall.
Tibbetts returns after suffering a torn ACL during her sophomore season, one of a handful of season-ending knee injuries suffered by Patriots players a year ago. The team spent part of the summer working with Bob Kurtzner on injury prevention to try and combat those season-ending injuries. The Patriots open their season with a tough test, traveling to Hinesburg to face Champlain Valley Union High School Friday at 4:30 p.
m. MAU isn’t putting a number on the games they’d like to win, but are eying a championship in the Lady Patriot Classic which kicks off Sept. 5 against Southern Vermont League opponent Brattleboro.
This year’s senior class has made the final all three years, but have not been able to hoist the trophy. “It’s our home tournament and we’ve all played in that tournament for the past three years,” Rella-Neill said. “I think it would be a really nice way to end our senior year.
” “It’s our final year to give it all we have,” said fellow senior Maggie LaBatt. “I have faith in this team to do well.”.
