2007 SEASON PREVIEW

The Bridgton Academy soccer team looks to improve on last year's record of 11-4-2, and to earn an invitation to play in the Class A New England Prep School Soccer Tournament at the conclusion of the season. Under new head coach Michael Toohey, BA Class of 1997, and assistant coach Matt Berk, the Wolverines have had a strong start to the 2007 season. At the time of this writing, the Wolverines were 6-2-1, with wins against Bowdoin College, Colby College, Providence Country Day, Thayer Academy, Salisbury Academy, and the Winchendon School.

Leading the Wolverines this season are team captains Andrew Henshaw (Marlborough, MA) and Chris Roswess (West Springfield, MA).  Henshaw is a fast, athletic defender who has the ability to shut down opposing team's scorers while orchestrating his own team's play in front of him.  Roswess is a fundamentally tight player that can carve up defenses if they attempt to cover him one on one, and he has the ability to finish in the air and with either foot when around the goal.

Bridgton's team defense has been anchored by Henshaw and fellow backs Kimball Webster (St. Louis, MO), Zach Trubow (W. Newton, MA), Kyle Perkins (Gorham, ME), and Ian Serrao (Glastonbury, CT).  All four of these backs have rotated through the midfield and back, and have provided the Wolverines with speed and the ability to carry the ball up the field from the back.  Besides their defensive obligations, all of the backs are dangerous once on the opponents' end of the field.  Webster helps to stabilize the back with his speed and confident touch.  He has one of the best shots on the team and has proven accurate from distance this season.  Trubow has shown that he can set up scoring chances with his accurate passing, and that he can also create his own shot.  Perkins gives the Wolverines another accurate shot from distance and has exceptional speed, while Serrao provides another explosive option for BA with his speed, aggressiveness on the ball, and his ability to move the ball up field with the dribble.

Despite only having played limited minutes in goal before attending Bridgton, goalkeeper Ian Bamford (Blue Hill, ME) has taken charge in the net for the Wolverines.  Through nine games, Bamford had only allowed 11 goals, while posting shutouts against Bowdoin College, Providence Country Day, and Colby College.  Bamford will also see action on the field as a striker as well as in the goal this season.

In the center of the midfield, Bridgton has benefited from solid play from Stephen Bittel (Goshen, CT), Domenic Mancini (Watertown, CT), and Justin Merrell (Yakima, WA).  Bittel has been playing a defensive midfield position and is one of the strongest players in the air for BA.  Mancini has proven to be a steady possessor and set up man for his teammates, using his size and foot skills to hold off defenders, giving his teammates time to make runs in the offensive end of the field.  Merrell is a long, athletic midfielder that has shown the ability to find the open man with through balls and to make dangerous runs with the ball.  On the wings, Bridgton has used Ross Schettine (Ocala, FL), Kevin Deak (Berwyn, PA), Leslie Kocsis (South Portland, ME), Andrew Sutman (West Lake Village, CA), and Will O'Connor (Cos Cob, CT).  Schettine and Deak rely on their strength to defend on the wings, while Kocsis provides the Wolverines with speed and a quick touch out wide.  Sutman and O'Connor have used this season to improve on their knowledge of the game and to gain experience playing at a high level, and both young men have improved noticeably since August. 

TEAM is at the heart of the Wolverines success so far this season, and Coach Toohey has enjoyed watching the group evolve from a group of strangers into a tightly knit team. "Each week we get a little closer and more comfortable on the field together.  Our communication is picking up, and the attitude and leadership we have seen displayed in only six weeks greatly encourage Coach Berk and me.  It is a long season, and our guys are just starting to realize that there really is something special about playing at BA, proving your individual worth as part of a team in a one-year window.  These guys will remember this team experience for the rest of their lives, and I am proud to be a part of it," Toohey said.

At the conclusion of the 20 game regular season schedule, Bridgton will submit a bid to take part in the New England Class A Prep School Soccer Tournament to be held Nov. 14-18.