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The Winchester High girls soccer team (13-1-2) has not missed a beat this year under the guidance of first-year head coach Michelle Ross, and she’s thrilled the process has been smooth.
“The transition to a new coach undoubtedly brought its share of challenges, but the team rose to that challenge,” she said. “When my predecessor and mentor Rick Emanuel hung up his ‘clipboard,’ the entire Winchester program from the players to the fans were shocked. They knew they were going to be forced to get to know a different manager with a new coaching style, while also adapting to different methods of communication.”
Once hired, Ross knew she was accepting that challenge, and immediately went to work to focus on building a cohesive team that fosters leadership from all 22 players on the roster.
“Each and every player on the roster was chosen for a specific purpose to contribute equally to the team,” Ross explained. “Rick Emanuel instilled that team-first mentality in them, where each player understands that their contributions — whether as a starter, energizer, enforcer or finisher — are essential to the overall success of the team. That collective approach has fostered a family-like atmosphere, where every member feels empowered to play their role in order to bring their unique strengths to the team dynamic. The fact that we have 17 out of 22 players with at least one goal or one assist this season is a testament to that mindset.”
But that doesn’t mean Ross is undermining the contributions of the 2024 team captains. Ellie Kiernan, Lila Savage, Lucca Ventura and Anya Wickramasinghe have been nothing short of inspiring, she said during an interview with Winchester News.
“These (captains) stepped up to create a supportive environment, where each teammate feels valued, when they (run) onto the pitch,” Ross added. “They work hard in both games and practices, leading by example at all times to get the best out of their teammates.”
The Red & Black are by far the best team this fall in the Middlesex League, arguably one of the most competitive conferences in the state. The team’s first major test came against league rival Woburn last month, when both squads were undefeated. But they went on to dominate and shutout the Tanners, 3-0 in that Sept. 17 game.
“The girls really stepped up and played beautiful soccer in that game, possessing and moving the ball very well, while also connecting on passes against a real good team,” Ross said.
Many of Winchester’s games have been close affairs, but Ross believes that the non-league game against Wellesley (12-2-1, second in the Division 1 power rankings, as of Oct. 22) was probably the most challenging. They lost that Oct. 19 game by the narrowest of margins, 2-1, which also knocked the Red & Black from the unbeaten ranks.
During her report to the press after that game, she said: “Last night’s game was a thriller that had fans on the edge of their seats. Wellesley is a very good, disciplined team that moves in and out of space incredibly well. They transition from defense to offense seamlessly, (and so to limit) them to one goal was very impressive. [Their] other goal was scored off a penalty kick. I’m so proud of the effort that each and every one of [my] players gave against a well-disciplined, tactical team. The stats do not lie. They show a very even game from the time of possession to the shots to the goal kicks. I feel like the girls rose up to compete with Wellesley’s speed, and were also able to make adjustments on the field to handle their counterattack. This was the type of game we needed to lead us into the state tournament. I’m very proud of the grit and determination the team showed, even though the [final] score did not go our way. Their effort and resolve were unparalleled. They challenged for every ball until the last whistle. They left everything on the field, and that is what makes this group so amazing. Our captains led by example. They lifted the morale and performance of the team by challenging and pressuring for every ball in this game.”
Ross also wanted to point out the team’s stellar defensive efforts this year that’s the direct result of their superb first place record. Those efforts were led by defenders Ellie Kiernan, Gaby Hermsdorf, Amanda Mitchel, Grace Wilhoite, Sara Stewart, Leila Flummerfelt, Victoria Diaz-Tijerina and Julia Provenzano.
“The defense has only allowed five goals in 16 games,” Ross said. “This is an incredible feat, but it’s even more pronounced given [our] loss of last year´s All-New England starting goalie Reagan Murphy to graduation.”
The Red & Black have three regular season games left on the schedule, before the postseason gets underway. They went up against host Belmont on Oct. 23, before facing non-league opponents North Andover on Oct. 26 and Lynnfield (Nov. 1, at Lynnfield, at 4:30 p.m.) to close out the slate. As of Oct. 22, the Winchester girls are seeded seventh in the Division 1 power rankings.
