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2007 Girls Soccer All-Stars

ALYSSA ACCOMANDO, Beverly, Sr., Midfield One of the Panther captains who had a significant role in the BHS seniors making the postseason for the first time in five years ... Had 7 goals and 5 assists ... 2006 team MVP ... Scored two goals off free kicks ... Undecided between Division 2 and 3 on college choices as they pertain to soccer ... 3.96 GPA ... Ranked 24th in class.

North Andover soccer coach's remarkable journey to success

Kevin "Bud" McCarthy keeps the portrait in his wallet. It's stained and yellowed, but the gold buttons on his uniform are still bright.

Could it really be him?

If you didn't believe that McCarthy a man known for his wit, charm and empathy, was a marine, the photograph proves it.

H-W senior soccer players help coach special needs youngsters

Nora Einhorn, Emily Helming, Juliana Martinez and Niles Batchelder have a few things in common. They're all seniors in high school, attend Hamilton-Wenham Regional, and are all pretty strong soccer players.

MIAA needs to correct its tournament-pairing process

Throw out the current Massachusetts high school tournament structure, a system based solely on winning percentage for the way teams qualify for and are seeded in the state tournament.

The idea behind seeding teams is to reward the best teams with the easiest draw so that fans can see the best matchups at the end of each sectional.

Robinson's neighborhood a happy place

Bree Robinson didn't expect this. She figured Pinkerton wouldn't be contending for a Class L title this fall. "Truthfully," the senior striker said, "I thought next year was going to be a great year."

Dynamic duo paces Andover

Admittedly, Alex Bengston is as outgoing as they come. She's not quite at Jonathan Papelbon's level yet, but she isn't afraid to let loose. Just ask her.

"I talk a lot," she said, "so people know a lot about me." Jess Morrow, on the other hand, works silently. "She directs things quietly," Andover High girls coach Meghan Matson said.

Morrow, Styrczula named MVPs in MVC

Led by co-MVP Jess Morrow, Andover ruled the all-Merrimack Valley Conference girls soccer team.

Morrow, a junior midfielder who leads the Golden Warriors with 15 goals, shared Large School MVP honors with Kirsten Chirichetti of Billerica. Andover led all teams with four All-MVC players. The others were junior Alexandra Bengston and seniors Erica Leber and Camille Fantini.

Coaches' Corner: Anne Marinaro

Anne Marinaro has been a fixture in the Merrimack Valley since the late 1980s, when she starred for the Andover High (Eagle-Tribune All-Star in 1989-90) and University of Maine soccer teams.

Back then, you knew her as Anne Murnane. That was before she married her high school sweetheart, Joe Marinaro, an Andover football great who went on to become a three-year starting lineman at the University of Michigan.

Sisters galore in Salem High girls soccer program

Kristin Wyke has college plans that don't include varsity soccer. The Salem High senior goalkeeper is most likely to continue in either club or intramurals in college, perhaps even playing lacrosse instead.

Local teams vying for tournament berth must finish strong

Ahh, the glory of October high school soccer. Now that the shadows are creeping out much earlier in the day, each goal seems to matter that much more. And with only a week and a half remaining before the end of the season, the time to figure out which teams will be making their post season appearances is upon us.

Peabody sisters are a talented duo on the soccer pitch

They're typical sisters, these highly-skilled Manoogian kids on Peabody High's undefeated girls soccer team.

"We have our stupid little fights," Alyssa Manoogian said. "Like when one of us is wearing the other's shirt, stuff like that. Clothes are usually the issue."

North Andover's Dellea has not let a pair of ACL injuries slow her down

There were just seconds remaining in a routine win over Ipswich, but the second Mariah Dellea heard the unmistakable "pop" in her right knee she instantly knew her soccer season was over.

"It's a weird sound that you know when you hear it," said Dellea of the ominous sound which only accompanies a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Triton girls primed for postseason

Few things are certain in the Cape Ann League, especially preseason predictions or expectations, which often prove only to be fodder for talk.

The Triton girls soccer team is proving as much with its remarkable early season success.

Garabedian and Bissaillon are Fenwick cornerstones

It was not easy for Michelle Garabedian to pass up going to Salem High School.

Her grandfather Harry, a retired Salem firefighter, has been inducted into the Salem High Athletic Hall of Fame as one of the school's best-ever basketball guards. Her father, Scott, was a Salem High football captain.

An ACL injury may have sidelined Erin Griffin, but it did not end her season

Whoever came up with the phrase "making lemonade out of lemons" would have probably enjoyed spending a few minutes talking to Erin Griffin.

The dynamic senior captain for the Londonderry girls soccer team was back on the field Wednesday for the Lancers' 3-0 win over Salem. But with Griffin dressed in long pants and sneakers instead of shorts and cleats, yesterday probably marked the first occasion in the last four years that the Blue Devil coaching staff did not have to warn their team to keep an eye on the lightning-quick striker from Londonderry.

Danvers girls use depth and tradition to stay among the elite

What is it that keeps the Danvers High School girls soccer program atop the mountain?

After all, it's major news when the Falcons lose or even tie.

But there's no mystery as to why Danvers is always strong, said head coach Jim Hinchion. Maybe a degree of awe, but certainly no mystery as to why the Falcons are continually one of the top programs in Eastern Mass. girls soccer circles.