RICHMOND

Come on, it’s Richmond High School and fall is approaching. That means soccer, soccer, soccer. And, a little cross country.

The girls will be out to defend their State Class D title, while the boys look to get back into the state-title hunt.

The boys have made a few on-field changes and hope to replace some quality players (Kade Strout, Tyler Harrington, Ben Carver, Peter Lorbeski, Brian Snedeker), while the girls don’t have all-state player Danica Hurley around (also Katie Webster, Lindsy Hoopingarner), so they’ll have to adjust as well.

Boys soccer

Coach — Joe Scribellito.

2011 highlights — Finished 11-2-1 in regular season, beat Vinalhaven 4-1 in Western Maine Class D semifinals and lost to Greenville 1-0 in Western Maine finale.

Changes are afoot for the Richmond High School boys soccer team as the 2012 fall sports season nears.

With the loss of five solid players from a squad that fell to rival Greenville in the Western Maine Class D final, and the addition of former Wiscasset standout and senior Eddie Stewart, the Bobcats will change from a 3- 4-3 setup to a 5-3-2, giving Richmond more of scoring punch, with the East-West Conference opener set for Aug. 31 at home against Valley.

“The work ethic once again on this team is beyond approach, and it has been nice to see that level of competition in practice and in scrimmages,” said Scribellito. “One weakness we are working on is having the guys not believe they have to do it themselves. We need to play as a team to have success. I have seen flashes of that in our scrimmage games, but then we fall back into the one person trying to do it all.

“This year’s team is very fast, and the addition of Eddie Stewart to the midfield adds strength to a solid core with (senior) Randy Moody, (sophomore) Marcus Blake and (senior) Xavier Trask (stepping into the big shows of graduated Strout as the team’s sweeper).”

Senior midfielder Brett Stillwell returns, along with junior returnees Nate Tribbetts

(forward), Sam Lorbeski (F), Dustin Sullivan (goal keeper), Colin Acord (F), Sean Bernier (D), Jonathon Simmons (D), Skyler Mayers (midfield), Will Gaudet (MF/D), and sophomore Cameron Emmons (MF).

Stewart’s move to Wiscasset provides midfield and forward help to the Bobcats. Junior Trevor Korineck (MF), sophomore Bailey Johansen (D), and freshmen Mike Stewart (MF), Tyler Soucy (D), Nathan Vintinner (MF), Curtis Anderson (F), Caleb McArthur (F/MF) and Logan Anair (MF) are competing for starting spots.

“This is one of the deepest Bobcat teams that we’ve seen in a few years, with athletic freshmen vying for starting positions at nearly every spot,” said Scribellito, who feels Greenville is his squad’s toughest competition in the East-West Conference. “Greenville returns 10 of its 11 starters from last year, including Christian Richards, who can be just about unstoppable. Our ability to shut opposing offenses down will be the key to our success.”

Richmond’s non conference schedule is challenging, with Class C state champion Waynflete and Class C power Sacopee Valley on the docket.

“This is a brutal schedule that will certainly test us,” added Scribellito.

Season opener — Aug. 31 (H, Valley, 4 p.m.).

Key dates — Sept. 11 (H, Greenville, 4 p.m.), Sept. 18 (H, Vinalhaven, 2:30 p.m.), Sept. 29 (At Greenville, 1 p.m.), Oct. 6 (H, Waynflete, 4 p.m.)

Girls soccer

Coach — Troy Kendrick.

2011 highlights — West 12- 1 in regular season, beat Greenville 5-0 for Western Maine Class D crown and toppled Van Buren 4-1 for the Gold Ball.

Returning seniors include Noell Acord (Attack), Sadie Gosse (Midfield), Taylor Clapp (M), Andra Meagher (M), Payton Johnson (M), Bri Snedeker (Defense), Ciarra Lancaster (D), Marlena Carter (D), Emily Leavitt (M) and Jessie Anair (A).

From the junior class, look for Haley Murphy (D), Kayla Beaulieu (M) and Chika Obi (M), while the sophomores are Amber Loon (A), Kelsi Obi (Goaltender) and Nicole Blake (D).

The freshman class has good numbers in Sarah Wright (M), Autumn Acord (M), Taylor Paulison (D), Kelsea Anair (A), Kalah Patterson (D), Kyla Johansen (D), Jade Gammon (D) and Cera Osgood (M).

“I believe depth is a strength this year as I have close to 30 kids,” said Kendrick. “There has been intense competition for starting positions and minutes.

“We graduated an outstanding goaltender (Hoopingarner) and goal scorer (Hurley). We need to have consistent and adequate goalkeeping. Kelsi Obi has put in a lot of offseason work training for this and looks solid in preseason. I think we will score by committee this season … we have a bunch of kids who can put the ball in the net. Might make us tougher to defend.”

Kendrick is fully aware that his team has a target on their backs.

“It’s pretty wide open in the West,” he offered. “I think Rangeley, Greenville and Vinalhaven will all be in the hunt this season. So, we have tried to build a challenging out-of-conference schedule.”

Season opener — Aug. 31 (H, Old Orchard Beach, 4 p.m.).

Key dates — Sept. 11 (H, Greenville, 4 p.m.), Sept. 29 (At Greenville, 1 p.m.), Oct. 6 (H, Waynflete, 4 p.m.), Oct. 9 (At Sacopee Valley, 5 p.m.).

Cross country

Head coach — Jeffrey Orth.

The Richmond runners have been working out as well in anticipation of the seasonopening meet next week.

On the boys’ roster, look for Travis Robbins, Josh Rogers, Everett Perry and Arron Miller, while on the girls’ side there are Charity Winokurzew, Maggie Robbins and Elsie Winokurzew.

“They are a small, but dedicated team who are working hard in practice and are excited for a good season,” said Orth. “We hope to recruit more runners for the season, with the goal of qualifying for states.

Season opener — August 31 (At Oceanside, 4 p.m.).

Key dates — Oct. 6 (Homecoming, 1 p.m.), Oct. 20 (Western Class C Regional meet at Twin Brook in Cumberland), Oct. 27 (State meet at Troy Howard Middle School, Belfast).