Rachel Conklin controls the play in the midfield.
WESTFIELD – The Westfield United Soccer Club U-16 ladies soccer team has started hot and improved to 2-0 after back to back 5-0 wins over Chicopee and Brookside in the Pioneer Valley Junior Soccer League. The wins were supported by strong play in the middle by Rachel Conklin and Morgan Sanders controlling ball possession through the midfield. Sanders scored a goal and lent an assist, and Conklin assisted on two other goals. The team had a variety of scoring threats and a balanced attack with Genevieve Koumentakos, scoring four goals in the first two games, as well as goals from Kaela Brazee, Rachel Cousins, Ally Helliwell, Taylor Smith and Taylor White. As the ladies outshot Brookside 19-3, Julia Busiere, Abby McCarthy, Julia Barouxis, Caleigh Rockwal, and Sarah Verrochi applied pressure with strong midfield play, assists, and shots on goal. Strong defense from Kayla Roskey, Eileen Fitzgerald, Katrina Arona, and Kelly Michonski have kept opponents scoreless while the goaltending tandem of Jess Healey and Lindsey Cousins have been solid in goal. The ladies are having fun and playing great soccer as a team. This should prove to be a challenging and exciting season for them as they look to compete against future opponents such as Granby, JBO, East Longmeadow, Hampshire United and West Springfield.
