After making great strides during the 2014 campaign, enthusiasm is running high as the Massachusetts Maritime women’s cross country program gears up for the 2015 season.  Second-year Head Coach Trish O’Brien guided her squad to a quartet of top five finishes in competition last fall, and with a solid mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers, the Buccaneers are looking to take a run at the top of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference pack.

One of the program’s staples since its inception has been outstanding leadership, and O’Brien will look to senior Shavonne Boyle (Doylestown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and junior Mara Footit (Wilbraham, Mass./Cathedral) to provide that example as Massachusetts Maritime’s co-captains this fall.  O’Brien, who is also serving as the Academy’s Acting Director of Athletics, says that “being a captain carries great responsibility, but it is the ultimate sign of respect, and both Shavonne and Mara certainly have earned that.  Their commitment and dedication to the program is unwavering, and they will continue to represent their teammates and the entire Academy community with tremendous pride.”

Footit made an immediate impact on the program’s fortunes by taking top individual honors in the Buccaneers’ final five races of last season, including a 23^rd place individual finish at the MASCAC/New England Alliance Championships as well as the individual crown at the Pine Manor Invitational.  Boyle also had a solid first season for O’Brien in 2014, finishing 13^th at the Travis Fuller Invitational and fifth at Pine Manor, while sophomores Lexy Halpin (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth South) and Kaylene Murphy (Randolph, Mass./Ursuline Academy) enjoyed consistent individual performances throughout their respective inaugural collegiate campaigns, including top 25 finishes in the Travis Fuller Invitational.

Seniors Jillian Petrarca (Manutuck, R.I./South Kingstown) and Amanda Subenko (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) lend additional experience for O’Brien in 2015 and will look to crack the squad’s top five times, while freshmen Jaleni Rodriguez (Brandon, Fla./Blake), Myat Smith (Sanford, Fla./Royal) and Jacqueline Sufficool (Atlantic Highland, N.J./Marine Academy of Science) are all looking to contribute to Massachusetts Maritime’s fortunes as newcomers this fall.

The Buccaneers begin their second season under Trish O’Brien’s watch on Saturday, September 5^th when Massachusetts Maritime hosts the 11^th Annual Lt. Travis J. Fuller Invitational alongside Cape Cod Canal beginning at 10:00 a.m. EDT.