2003-2004 Fall Season Summary: Varsity Girls' Soccer

The 2003 Kent Girls Varsity Soccer season was an exciting one which included thrilling victories over several top teams in western New England. Throughout the fall the team played with heart and passion and should be proud of their efforts in every game.

With a solid mix of new and returning players, the team found itself getting to know each other over the first part of the year. Exciting combination play developed between forwards Kendra Schwindt and Kerry McKenna. The play of our central midfielders, Co-Captain Ally Carroll, Blair Adam, Lindsey Lawten and Suzanne Willis, allowed the team to control the pace of many games. Behind that group was an intelligent core of defenders led by senior co-captain Marissa Mullane and Joanna Glass that developed a patient defensive style that stymied the attacks of our opponents.

The season opened with a convincing victory over Canterbury that included a three goal effort by Schwindt. Later, a home game against Berkshire saw the girls come back from a two goal half time deficit tying the game on two goals by Lawten. Finally with thirty seconds to play, senior Blair Adam scored a thrilling game winning goal. Perhaps the most exciting game was at Hotchkiss on a frigid October afternoon. In a game where play was dictated by a strong wind, the Kent eleven kept Hotchkiss and the wind at bay for the first half. In the second half Ally Carroll and Lindsey Lawten scored on great outside shots to give Kent the victory. The key to this game was the play of goaltender, Brittany Allen, who recorded over thirty saves – many of the spectacular variety – as she earned the shut out. Allen was also instrumental in an intense 1-1 tie earned against Taft.

Some of the girls' best play came in games that did not turn out our way. Against both Deerfield and Choate, Kent's midfielders dominated the central portion of the field and created numerous scoring opportunities. Most impressive was the improvement in both team and individual play over the course of the season. We enjoyed the focus of a great group of seniors, particularly the girls that have been part of the varsity team for several years. Co-Captains Ally Carroll (varsity soccer for four years) and Marissa Mullane (three years) as well as Blair Adam (two), Katlyn McKenna (two) and Lindsey Lawten will be missed next fall. Fortunately, there is a large group of returning players including the 2004 captains, Suzanne Willis and Brittany Allen, both of whom earned All WWNEPSSA recognition this season.

ALL-LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS: Allyson Carroll, Lindsay Lawten

A Word from the Coach

Fielding teams at both the Varsity and Junior Varsity levels, Kent girls soccer competes with eight other Connecticut schools in the Founders League. This league is widely recognized as one of the top prep leagues in New England for women's soccer. Our larger affiliation is the competitive Western New England Preparatory School Soccer Association (W.N.E.P.S.S.A.), a league comprised of 33 schools from Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts.

A member of the most competitive A Division for the New England Tournament Selections group, over the past fifteen years, Kent Girls Varsity Soccer has qualified for the New England Championship Tournament eight times. Nine players have been selected to play for the All-State Team and one to the All-New England Team. Several players have also gone on to play at the collegiate level. The JV team has also been highly successful in their similarly rigorous schedule.

While our teams are successful on the field, an important aspect of the soccer program, and all sports at Kent School, is the focus on learning, character development and respect for self and others. I am very proud of our School's athletic commitment to these noble goals and that winning occurs concurrently within the framework designed to achieve those goals.

The key to the success of the soccer program is the commitment of new and returning athletes. The passion you bring for the game is what could make you a valuable addition to our squad. We hope that you have the opportunity to visit our campus, meet some students and look around. If you have any questions about the girls' soccer teams please feel free to contact me at klingebj@kent-school.edu or (860) 927-6118. I have been teaching and coaching soccer at Kent for the past ten years (with the girls the past three) and would be glad to answer any questions you may have about the soccer program and school itself.

Jesse Klingebiel
Girls' Varsity Soccer Coach