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Friday, September 5, 2008
Young Eagles Looking to Soar
St. Paul, MN
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By: John Richads
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Photo(s) By: Steve Murphy
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After losing three-quarters of last year’s championship team, Totino-Grace still aims to be the best.
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“Our goal is to make it to state and to win,” coach Thibodeau said. “We always want to strive to be the best.”
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It was a triumphant 2007 for the Totino-Grace girls soccer team. Making their third-straight state tournament appearance and seventh this decade, the Eagles won the third Class A championship in the history of the program.
After amassing an 18-4-1 record, Totino-Grace was awarded the No. 4 seed in the state bracket and played its way to the championship after shutting out Sartell-St. Stephen and top-ranked Benilde-St. Margaret’s before prevailing over Blake in an overtime shootout to earn the small-school crown.
Much has changed in the 10-plus months since the Eagles made their victorious stand on the floor of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on Nov. 1.
The Eagles graduated 15 seniors from that championship squad and witnessed a change at the top as junior varsity coach Matt Thibodeau takes over for departed team lead Jeff Dennehy - who had been named Minnesota Private School Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in his final season at the helm.
Still, Thibodeau remains unfazed. “There’s a whole lot that’s new,” he said. “It’s a young team and it should be an exciting year. My job is to make sure we are fit and organized, to score and play defense.”
Only five players return from the 2007 club, including co-captains Abbie Serryn - a forward - and midfielder Jessica Pellegrene. Midfielder Lauren Soukup joins defenders Mackenzie Quade and Theresa Cassidy to round out the returning contingent. Serryn and Cassidy were named North Suburban Conference honorable mention last season.
Other players, such as junior midfielder Toni Meyers who moves to the top team this year, will be getting their first extensive experience with the top team in 2008.
Thibodeau said that while a vast number of seniors have moved on, the Eagles are set up to remain a contending team for this season and beyond. “We have a lot of very good freshman players coming in,” Thibodeau said. “There is a lot of talent here.”
Even though not a lot may be familiar for the casual Totino-Grace soccer fan, Thibodeau feels quite comfortable with the new arrangements. “Many of the girls on this year’s varsity team are players that I coached in the junior varsity levels,” Thibodeau said. “It’s been a pretty smooth transition.”
While most programs may consider the year following the loss of three-quarters of the squad to be a rebuilding season, Thibodeau said that the Eagles aspirations remain unchanged this go-around. “Our goal is to make it to state and to win,” he said. “We always want to strive to be the best.”
Whether another championship is in the cards for the rookie coach and his new-look squad remains to be seen, or if the Eagles are denied a back-to-back title, it won’t be for lack of enthusiasm.
“We’re excited,” Thibodeau said. “I know these girls will play with all their heart and it will be a good season.”
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