While they may be new to each other, the returning members of the Manchester Essex girls soccer team and new coach Scout Grifoni have one crucial element in common: experience.
This is Grifoni’s first year coaching at Manchester Essex, but she has an extensive history both coaching and playing the sport.
“I played NCAA Div. 1 soccer at Bryant University, and I also played for Puerto Rico's National Team in FIFA World Cup and Olympic Qualifiers in 2014,2015, and 2017,” explains the coach. “After college, I played for the Boston Breakers Reserve Team for my final season in 2017 and began coaching with Watertown Girls Varsity, Malden Catholic, and Beverly Youth Soccer. Although I worked outside of athletics, I felt a strong pull to return to coaching full-time.”
That pull brought her to Manchester Essex, where she will work with a group that also boasts an impressive amount of experience with the sport at the varsity level. The Hornets return a number of players from a team that advanced to the Sweet 16 of MIAA Div. 4 tournament last fall, including eight seniors – a group that includes standouts Libby Lawler, Madi Cook, Charlotte Crocker, Ella Arntsen, Meg Hurd, Liv Kent, Tori Moulton and Caroline Willwerth – as well as five juniors.
“Everyone has bought into the vision and we're all trusting the process,” says Grifoni. “Our team has good chemistry, and we feel confident that the goals are going to come, and they do.”
Manchester Essex has gone 3-1 out of the gate, suggesting that the introduction of a veteran coach to a veteran team for the first time has worked out about as well as one could hope for.
“The transition has been both exciting and rewarding,” says Grifoni. “Stepping into this role with the team has been a great experience, and getting to know the players has brought me much joy. Building relationships and understanding each player’s strengths and needs has been a priority. We have all been adaptable in ways that exceeded my expectations. We've focused on fostering open communication and establishing a collaborative environment. Watching the team step into this new reality without hesitation is a testament to their character not just as soccer players but as young adults.”
This roster may not be as deep as some other squads in the Cape Ann League, but there is no denying that it boasts a lot of talent. Lawler and Harper Brooks both have scored three goals and notched a pair of assists each so far, Hurd has five goals and two assists and Izzy Zagrobski’s defense has been noteworthy so far.
“From a soccer standpoint, no doubt our speed up top is dangerous,” explains
Grifoni. “But really, we are a selfless team, that is our greatest strength. We are a small program, so staying healthy is important for us this year.”
The Hornets were slated to face North Reading on the road on Sept. 17, followed by a home game against Rockport on Sept 19 and a road game versus Georgetown on Sept 24 (4 p.m.).
“North Reading will be one of the toughest teams we play this season,” says Grifoni. “They are dangerous up top and have proven solid defensively too. They are seeing success against good teams and we're embracing this challenge as an opportunity to apply the principles we've been talking about. Rockport will be another conference game that we need to show up as our best selves for.”
MEET THE CAPTAINS
By Jason Brisbois
