RICHMOND

Meranda Martin had quite the career.

This past Saturday, she played in her fourth consecutive Class D State Championship as a senior captain of the Richmond High School girls soccer team. She’s now lost a mere six matches in her career.

Her final game ended in a painful 2-1 double overtime loss, but it was all smiles for Martin as she carried the runners-up plaque out of Fitzpatrick Stadium.

“My career has been great,” Martin said. “I’ve been here, the state game, all four years in a row. There’s not many teams that get to experience these experiences. We won last year, so at least I have one gold ball in my career and its been great.”

As he always does, coach Troy Kendrick will have a formidable squad put together by the end of next summer, but the road back to another state final might be a little tougher in 2017.

Martin is one of six seniors that will graduate in the spring, and more importantly, one of four senior captains.

“This was a particularly talented group of kids,” coach Kendrick said. “They are great role models. They were my hardest workers. They were always putting team first, so not only am I losing some talented players, I’m really losing some kids who I think led us in the right direction.”

“We definitely have some holes to fill,” sophomore Caitlin Kendrick said. “But, we were a work-in-progress this past season and we made it here so I think we’ll be able to do the same thing next year.”

The biggest holes will come in the back line, with defenders Cassidy Harriman and Camryn Hurley departing. The group was stingy to say the least, giving up a mere nine goals in 17 matches this season. Four out of those nine goals came against Class C Sacopee Valley and the newly appointed Class D champions Ashland.

But, like it’s always been at Richmond, it’ll be next player up.

“Got some pieces there,” coach Kendrick said. “We’re looking for some people to step up. You kind of just keep plugging those holes.”

Some key returning players will be Kendrick’s daughter Caitlin, who scored the Bobcats’ goal in the final on Saturday, Destiny Anair, who has been active on the wing all season and takes corners kicks, and junior Sydney Tilton, who will be in line to take over as a captain and may step out from between the posts next year.

“I think Cait(lin Kendrick) is really going to step up,” Martin said. “Sydney is really going to step up. She goes hard at everything she does. She never gives up. I think the team is going to be pretty good next year. People just need to step up and fill the roles we had and they need to have fun with it.”

Coach Kendrick will also be looking to develop freshmen Rylie Irish, Lindsie Irish and sophomore Ashley Brown. All three got playing time this season and all three caught the coach’s eye with potential.

At one point, Martin was one of those freshmen, and in Richmond, soccer starts at a young age. Seniors like Martin, Harriman and Hurley have been playing together for years.

Most come up through Troy Kendrick’s middle school program which, admittedly, is on the lighter side at the moment. Still, through indoor winter leagues and other camps, soccer isn’t going anywhere in Richmond.

“I think we’ve got decent numbers in rec. soccer,” coach Kendrick said. “As long as we have numbers and we’ve got kids to work with, we’re just going to keep putting the time in.”

Right now, after a long fall season, players like Caitlin Kendrick and Tilton will be looking for a little time off. It was a tough way for the campaign to end, but there was a lot to be learned — especially for two future leaders of the Richmond program.

“It definitely teaches me that you’ve got to take running seriously,” Caitlin Kendrick joked. “You just have to have the want. You’ve got to go in knowing that you’re going to have to bust for 80 minutes, even 95 minutes.”