BATH

The Morse High School boys soccer team has a new coach in Andy Knox, an education technician at Bath Middle School.

A 2008 University of Maine Farmington graduate, Knox originally hails from Iowa, and his previous coaching stints have been at Lisbon (girls jayvees) and Mt. Ararat (freshman boys).

“I’m a little nervous because it’s kind of new, but this is a good group of kids,” said Knox.

“I just want to get the kids out here and have a good time,” said Knox of his coaching philosophy. “Teach the game and teach them about sportsmanship. I’m having fun with them … keeping them active. If we win games, we win games … if not we won’t, but we’ll build from each week and go from there.”

Knox admits he’s not familiar with the Morse schedule, which is comprised of Class B schools, mainly with a northern and eastern flavor.

“But as far as competition, I think we do have quite bit of depth, so kids getting fatigued I don’t think will be too much of a problem. I think we have close to 40 players so we can have 20 on each squad, which would be great.”

On the field, Knox says it’s still early to establish what kind of team he’ll field on the pitch.

“Once I see the kids more I can figure out what kinds of formations and things like that,” the 26-year-old said last week. “The big thing is having coach (Dave) Dorion around. He’s been great. But, he wants me to take the reins and he’ll be around to help out. Motivation is key … and to keep them motivated.”

Boys soccer

Coach — Andy Knox, first year.

2011 highlights — Finished 8-5-1 in regular season. As a fifth seed in Western B, lost to Maranacook 2-1 in quarterfinals.

The Shipbuilders are loaded in the senior class, led by Jake White (Forward/Midfield), Grady Madden (Goalkeeper), Duane Tardif (Defense/GK), Aaron LaPointe (M), Matt Buczkowski (D), Paul Whalen (D), PC Ostergaard (M), Nick Theriault (F), Michael Alavarez (F) and Pat Yurek (D).

Among the juniors look for Galen Dubois (M), Nate Bonzagni (M/D) and Jacob Freeman (M), while sophomores expected to contribute include Garrett Robson (M/F), Zach Holbrook (D), Alex Beveridge (M), Sam Coffey (D) and Josh Wright (M).

“I’ve seen some good things so far in preseason,” said Knox. “We need to score some goals and get our confidence up. I think once we do that, we’ll be pretty good.

“I’m getting to know the kids a little better and building some relationships and I have a better idea of how to use them on the field.”

Season opener — Aug. 31 (At Camden Hills, 3:30 p.m.).

Key dates — Sept. 18 (H, Lincoln Academy), Sept. 22 (H, Gardiner, 1 p.m.), Oct. 2 (H, Nokomis, 3:30 p.m.), Oct. 10 (H, Camden Hills, 6 p.m.)

Football

Coach — Jason Darling.

2011 highlights — Went 4-4 in regular season and earned the eighth seed in Eastern B, losing to No. 1 Leavitt 61-12 in quarterfinals.

“We had a good offseason and a terrific preseason thus far,” said Darling. “During the summer we participated in Leavitt High School’s seven-on-seven passing league, taking third place. We also took six players up to the Madison Big Man Battle, a day of competition for our team’s linemen.

“We are a little banged up, which is to be expected during the second week of preseason, but expect to have all of our players back for the season opener against Camden (home on Friday at 7 p.m.). Our main focus is getting them back for the 31st.”

Returning seniors include Kevin McKellar (QB/S), D’Vaughn Myers (RB/S), Keegan Drouin (WR/CB), Michael Bonzagni (TE/LB) and Aaron Barrett (G/DE), while the junior class features Cameron Malcolm (T/DT), Kaleb Snowdon (G/NG), Liam McDonough (RB/LB) and Michael Armstrong (C/DE).

Sophomores to look for include Dylan Severt (T/DT), Casey Watson (TE/DE), Joshua McDougal (QB/CB), Dakota Jacobs (G/DE), Andrew Payson (G/NG), Scott Peterson (RB/LB) and Kevin Feeney (RB/CB), while newcomers include seniors Seamus Fitzpatrick (T/DT) and Chris Mixon (T/DT), junior Nigel Moye (RB/S), sophomores Ethan Winglass (WR/S) and James Laser (RB/DE) and freshman Juwan Moore (T/DT).

“The kids have worked hard this preseason, and our leadership has really shown,” added Darling. “Even though we’ve only got 13 upperclassmen on the roster, most of them have been starting varsity for two, or even three years. Our underclassmen have done a great job thus far, and make our roster look much bigger with 41 total on the team.

“We still lack depth, so injuries are a concern, but that’s the case all over the state. The kids are excited about the opportunity to show this town how much work they’ve put in, and to reap the rewards of it on the game field.”

Season opener — Aug. 31 (Home with Camden Hills, 7 p.m.)

Key dates — Sept. 14 (At Leavitt, 7 p.m.). Sept. 21 (H, Waterville, 7 p.m.), Oct. 13 (H, Mt. Blue, 1 p.m.)

Girls soccer

Coach — Steve Boyce.

2011 highlights — Went 14-0 in first year in Class B. Beat Lake Region 4-0 in quarterfinals, beat Maranacook 3-1 in semis and lost to Falmouth 2- 1 in Western Maine Class B finals.

Morse has four seniors: Sadia Crosby (Goaltender, captain), Megan Hixon (defense, captain), Bess Howell (midfield, captain) and Elizabeth Walfield (midfield).

There are eight juniors: Lauren Chandler (GK), Morgan Cram (D), Nichole Laggan (D), Paige Martin (M), Carly McDorr (D), Anna Simmler (D), Savannah Simmons Grover (M) and Michael Stinson (M).

The team is also loaded with 14 sophomores: Maris Adler (M), Alesha Aucoin (GK/M), Micaila Barone (M), Courtney Estabrook (D), Lauren Glancy (D), Leia Graves (D), Emily James (Attack), Ruth Nadeau (A), Lauren Pelletier (M), Grace Reno (A), Heaven-Leigh Rose (A), Sophie Sreden (D), Miracle Trimble (A) and Brianna Williams (A).

How about this — 12 freshmen: Alexis Banks (D), Amanda Barrett (A), Emma Campbell (A), Baylie Cram (D), Megan Curtis (D), Phoebe Daggett (A), Alizhay Gagnon (A), Taylor Gagnon (A), Madison Olsen (M), Isabelle Paulus (D), Emma Rossetti (D) and Alexandria Stevenson (A).

Other newcomers are sophomore Lauren Glancy and Mia Lindhard, a foreign exchange student from Denmark.

“We had around 40 players come out for the team, which is around what is has been for the last dozen years,” said Boyce. “Included in that number are some who have come out for soccer for the first time. As we have a no-cut policy, all will be on the sideline once the season begins. Our depth has been a concern for this program for as long as I have coached at Morse and this year is no exception. As in the past, we could be an injury or two from a long hard season.

“One of our strengths is that many of our players were able to get significant varsity playing time last year, so as a result most should not be intimidated by playing at the varsity level. We also have a good number with some club experience. An additional positive for the team this year is that many of the players can play multiple positions with effectiveness.

“The biggest concern this year is that we are a young team. We have some talent but need to refine that talent so that we become a team. This team needs to develop its own identity.

“In addition, it is important to the success of the team to see how well we will deal with any adversity that we might face. The quicker we mature as a group, the more successful we will be as a team.

“This is our second year in Class B and we will be the target of many teams. The season begins with five challenging matches in a row. The first over Labor Day against Camden Hills, then off to Maranacook and two home games against Winslow and Oceanside, ending with a match at Leavitt. These are all playoff teams looking to make their mark against us.

The postseason is still a goal. We begin each season with a clean slate and with simple goals. “Obviously, the postseason is our main goal. If we maintain our composure, stay healthy and continue to mature as a team, we should be competitive and have a good chance to be playing towards the end of October.”

Season opener — Sept. 1 (H, Camden Hills, 11 a.m.).

Key dates — Sept. 7 (H, Winslow, 6:30 p.m.), Sept. 22 (H, Gardiner, 11 a.m.), Sept. 27 (H, MCI, 3:30 p.m.), Oct. 5 (H, Medomak Valley, 6 p.m.).

Field hockey

Coach — Johnna Stanton, first year back after missing last two seasons.

2011 highlights — Finished 2-11-1 in Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B, no postseason.

Returning seniors and positions include Tasha Jacobs (Midfield), Abby Moore (Attack), Aysia McCloud (A), Ari Malcolm (M/Defense), while the junior class has Kelsey Brick and the returning sophomores include defender Anita Doughty.

Newcomers include senior Hannah Rossetti (D), junior Michaela Lothrop (D), sophomores Allison Plummer (M), Shirah Gersh (A/D), Bronwyn Morrisette (A), Julia Hart (A), Morgan LaVasseur (M, transfer from Cony), Mallory Goodine (M), Bryanna Ringrose (Goaltender), Sophia LoSchiavo (A/GK), Kaylee Walker (M) and freshmen Asia DeRosby (A), Emma Harrington (M), Madison Savary (A), Marisabel Rodriguez (D) and Jasmine Thibodeau (D/M).

“Our numbers are good, team is very positive and ready to learn,” said Stanton. “However, what aren’t my concerns? I don’t know a coach who sleeps through the night during preseason.

“And, I’ve never coached class B, so I’m interested to see how it differs from Class A. I want us to work hard, have fun.”

Season opener — Aug. 31 (At Waterville, 4 p.m.).

Key dates — Sept. 13 (H, Winslow, 4 p.m.), Sept. 20 (H, Maranacook, 4 p.m.), Sept. 25 (H, Camden Hills, 4 p.m.), Oct. 2 (H, Lincoln Academy, 3:30 p.m.).

Cross Country

Coach — Dane Dwyer and Michael Rice

2011 highlights — Girls sixth in Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B with Charlotte Recknagel 17th overall; 11th in Western Maine Class B Regional, Recknagel 44th. Boys were 10th in KVACs with Nate Stover 30th; 13th in regionals with Ben Wright 55th.

Returning Seniors girls include Sydne Campbell, Danica Moore (captain), Lucy Rawson, Charlotte Recknagel (captain) and Clare Tolan (captain), while the juniors are Rachel Detwiler and Amy Franklin.

Returning sophomore is Emily Belanger, while newcomers include freshman Amelia Franklin.

“The entire girls team returns from last year, with the addition of Sydne Campbell, who participated her freshmen and sophomore years, and Amelia Franklin,” said head coach Dane Dwyer. “Amy Franklin leads the veteran team returning from a standout sophomore season where she ran with the state’s best before an injury at the regional meet.

“Charlotte Recknagel, Danica Moore, Clare Tolan and Lucy Rawson provide a solid top-five, with Rachel Detwiler, Emily Belanger, Sydne Campbell and Amelia Franklin all having the potential to run in the top seven and provide solid depth.

“This veteran team’s goal is to prepare well during the season and to run as a team all the way to the state meet.”

Returning senior boys are Codey Musolff and Nate Stover (captain), while juniors are Kyle Bauer, Noah Lapointe and Otto Werweiss.

Balt von Huene is the lone sophomore, while the freshman class has Aaron Ouellette, Nathaniel Rines and Christopher Walfield. Aidan McGowen is a newcomer.

“Captain Nate Stover leads an improved Morse boys team having the potential to run with the top runners in Class B,” lauded Dwyer. “The team’s second-through-seventh runners all have the potential to run within seconds of each other as well as below 19 minutes at the 5K distance.

“Stover provides team leadership and an excellent role model for his teammates with his work ethic and dedication,” added Dwyer. “The additions of Aidan McGowen and Christopher Walfield and the return of Musolff, von Huene, Werweiss and Noah Lapointe, who has put in major mileage since spring track, should set the team up well for a berth at the Class B state meet. Barring injury, with Stover pushing the pace and a solid two-five pack, the team has the strength to run with the top Class B teams in the KVAC and beyond.”

Season opener — Aug. 24 (Laliberte Invitational at Cony High School, 4 p.m.)

Key dates — Sept. 14 (At Mt. Ararat, 4 p.m.), Sept. 20 (At Brunswick, 4 p.m.), Oct. 13 (KVAC Championships at Cony High School, 11 a.m.), Oct. 27 (State Class B Championships at Belfast, TBA).

Golf

Coach — Chris Marco.

2011 highlights — Went 3-7 in regular season, but won three of its last four matches.

The lone returning senior is Alex Paulus, while the junior class has Kyle Perry, Dylan Crowell and Oliver Kruze.

Returning sophomores are Matt Fontanez, Wesley McKenna and Clayton Hennin, while newcomers include senior Jordan Lister and sophomores Ethan Brewer and Austin Talgo.

“We 10 kids out so far, but expect a couple more as the start of school approaches,” said Marco. “This should be primarily a developmental year with kids learning the skills, rules and etiquette of golf, as well as experiencing competitive golf for the first time.

Season opener — Aug. 28 (H, Brunswick, 3:30 p.m.)

Key dates — Sept. 10 (At Mt. Ararat, 3:30 p.m.), Sept. 20 (At Brunswick, 3:30 p.m.), Sept. 21 (H, Mt. Ararat, 3:30 p.m.