The growth and success that the Massachusetts Maritime women’s soccer team has achieved since its inception as a varsity program seven years ago has not gone unnoticed around the region, and the Buccaneers are looking to continue that trend during the 2015 season.  Head Coach Ray Cabral returns for his fifth campaign at the helm, and with 13 letterwinners and seven starters back in the fold, his squad is ready to tackle new challenges that lie ahead this fall.

Leadership has played a key role in the program’s development, and Cabral will turn to a trio of Buccaneer veterans to add to that tradition, as senior Katie Levesque (Wilmot, N.H./Kearsarge Regional) and juniors Aoife Callinan (West Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) and Kianna Carpenter (Sagamore Beach, Mass./Bourne) will serve as Massachusetts Maritime’s tri-captains this season.  Cabral, who has earned nearly 200 career victories as a collegiate mentor, says that “all three of our captains have played key roles in the growth of our program throughout their careers, and I look forward to that continuing this season.  The success that they have earned has come through hard work and dedication, and those qualities are the foundation on which this program has been built.”

Here’s a look at how things are shaping up for the 2015 edition of Buccaneer Women’s Soccer:

FORWARD.  Sophomore Stephanie Hunt (Brookfield, Conn./Brookfield) impressed during her rookie campaign up front for Massachusetts Maritime, as she netted a goal and two assists for four points in 15 outings, while senior Asia Vernon (Dutch Harbor, Ak./Unalaska City) and sophomore Alexandra Sheeran (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) each added a marker and helper for three points in 29 combined contests.  Junior Mackenzie Wilson (Plymouth, Mass./Notre Dame – Hingham) and sophomore Amber Vernon (Dutch Harbor, Ak./Unalaska City) lend additional experience after appearing 28 matches with 13 starts for the Buccaneers, who will also look for contributions from junior Natalie Lu (Oak Hill, Va./Paul VI Catholic) and freshman Madison Taylor (Longmeadow, Mass./Longmeadow).

MIDFIELD.  Callinan anchors an experienced group in the middle, as she returns as Massachusetts Maritime’s top scorer from last season with three goals and an assist for seven points.  Fellow junior Ashley Solari (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) is back in the fold after starting in 16 contests a year ago, while junior Heather Castro (Taunton, Mass./Bristol-Plymouth) and sophomore Jennifer Foley (Millis, Mass./Millis) are looking to return from injuries suffered in 2014 to make major impacts.

BACK.  Carpenter heads a steady Buccaneer backfield, as she started in all 16 matches last fall, while senior Janine Prokscha (Washington, Conn./Gunnery Prep) also returns after starting all 15 matches in which she played.  Sophomore Nicole Moquin (Middleboro, Mass./Bristol-Plymouth) provides additional experience after starting in eight of 14 contests as a rookie, while freshmen Brittany Munson (Tolland, Mass./Southwick-Tolland), Rachel Gardner (Bourne, Mass./Sturgis West) and Hillary Temple (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) will be vying for time on the defensive side for Massachusetts Maritime.

GOAL.  Levesque, a two-year team captain, returns as one of the top last lines of defense in the region for Cabral’s crew, as the three-time all-Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference and two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America all-region honoree has set every school goalkeeping record during her three seasons in the Buccaneer cage.  Levesque made 151 saves for a near .800 saves percentage last fall, as she recorded three wins, three ties and a trio of shutouts along the way while playing all but 90 of Massachusetts Maritime’s 1,513 minutes of action.

SCHEDULE.  Another 16-match slate awaits Cabral’s troops during the 2015 season, as Massachusetts Maritime will tangle with Becker, Anna Maria, Pine Manor, SUNY-Maritime, Daniel Webster, Coast Guard, Wheelock, Fisher and Bay Path in non-league action while taking on another seven-match MASCAC schedule.  The Buccaneers will host Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State and MCLA in conference play while traveling to Worcester State, Salem State, Framingham State and Westfield State for league clashes.

The eighth varsity intercollegiate season of Massachusetts Maritime women’s soccer begins on Wednesday, September 2^nd when the Buccaneers entertain Becker in a non-league contest at Clean Harbors Stadium at 7:00 p.m. EDT.