Girls Soccer: Lynn English hopes experience pays off

The Lynn English girls? soccer team experienced plenty of frustration last season. Now the Bulldogs hope that there?s plenty of exhilaration in 2015.
? Last year:The Bulldogs were 5-13-2 in the Northeastern Conference. The inability to put the ball in the net on a consistent basis (English scored 15 goals in 20 games) proved costly in several one- and two-goal losses.
Coach:Ed McNeil, In his 11th season as head coach, thinks his team is on the brink of putting an end to a tournament drought of nearly 20 years.
? Key players gone:The only big losses were defender Shanna Zeramby and midfielder Taegon Nelson, both of whom graduated. On paper, the Bulldogs have one of the most experienced teams in the NEC.
? Key players this year:McNeil returns 19 players, led by four-year starter Kaitlin Nadeau in goal. Nadeau was chosen as a NEC all-star last year. Senior captains Hayley Denham and McKenzie O?Hare will led a group of experienced defenders. Juniors Caitlin Sweeney, Taylor Sullivan, and Rachel Calnan also are back to bolster the backline in front of Nadeau and her backup, sophomore Tommi Hill.
Junior midfielder Emma Trahant led the Bulldogs with six goals last season while sophomore forward Alexa Zayas netted five in her freshman campaign. Juniors Krista Bowden and Cynthia DeLeon also return up front with sophomores Sydney Denham, Lauren Moorhouse, Abby Geaney, Tara Ueland, and Grace Gately.
? Strengths:Depth of experienced players.
? Question marks:McNeil knows his team needs to find goals from some new sources.
? Opening game:Sept. 8 against arch-rival Lynn Classical in the semifinals of the Lynn City Tournament at Manning Field.
? Big match on the schedule:The Bulldogs have two dates with NEC North powerhouses Beverly and Peabody, but a tournament berth could potentially be at stake in the season finale on Oct. 27 against Classical.? Coach?s outlook:?I really feel like we could win seven to 10 games this season if we can just put the ball in the net.”