The last time the Hopedale girls soccer team captured a State Championship was in 2005; a few years ago Coach Jay Rojee took his team to the Elite 8 and last year they advanced into the Final 4. After securing the number two seed in the Division 5 State Tournament, the Blue Raiders would eventually fall to Hull, the number three seed, 1-0 in the Final 4. This year, Rojee is looking for his girls to take that next step and make it into the Championship game. 

“We have 15-16 girls coming back who had gotten a good amount of playing time last year,” the coach said. “Hopefully, they can take the next step and get us to where we need to be.”

Seniors Kiley Tesseo and captain Chloe Westfield will be back on the field protecting the Hopedale defense, while captains Brooklyn McAlister and Analise Pinto - as well as Josie Fleming - will see time either in the midfield or playing striker.

On the offensive side of the ball, Pinto has been the team’s leading scorer over the past two seasons, while McAlister and Fleming kicked in goals in the 20s and teens, respectively. Junior captain midfielder Chloe Carpenter will also be looked upon to score as well.

Now freshman Mackenna Carpenter produced 20 something goals as an eighth grader last fall and the Coach is hoping she can continue to find the back of the net on a regular basis. 

“Obviously it’s going to be tough to put pressure on a freshman to score 20+ goals this year,” Rojee said. “However, with girls like Analise and the others, they should be able to distribute the ball well and Mackenna should be able to accomplish that feat again.” 

Rojee noted that having multiple girls who can score will allow the Blue Raiders to spread things out with Pinto being the main contributor. The senior captain, who will control the midfield for Hopedale, will be attending Stonehill University next fall to play soccer. 

In addition to Westfield and Tesseo patrolling the defense, Hopedale will also have junior Lucy Mandeville and freshman Breanna Fitzgibbon playing in the backfield. Juniors will be represented by defender Avery Araujo, midfielder Aislyn Butzke (who saw a lot of action last year as a center mid), and Alana Obal, who should be a surprise this fall at her midfield position. 

Sophomore Maddie Carpenter, who split time last fall as one of the team’s goalies, will hold down the position outright this year. 

Hopedale will also have four other freshmen, in addition Carpenter vying for playing time this upcoming season. Those freshmen pushing for playing time include Grace Rojee, who contributed 18 assists last year; Kaylei Apicella, a dynamic player off the bench who will play up top; Avery Faron and Vienna Butzke. 

Rounding out the team at this point is eighth grader Josie Keyes, who played sparingly last year.

Depth being the team’s ultimate strength leaves the coach to believe he is set up for success this upcoming season.

“Having depth is important and with the talent that we have allows it to be spread out,” Rojee said. “You want to stack your spine right up the middle and I believe that we have the talent there.”

Hopedale will open the season at Worcester South on Sept. 9.