Central aiming to send a message to rival Andover

OVERVIEW: Is this the year?

Each year, Central Catholic has gotten closer and closer to knocking off Andover and a lot of coaches around the Merrimack Valley Conference point to this being the Year of the Raider.

Andover boasts nine returning starters including standout Katie Kramer. Central returns three double-figure goal-scorers and also welcomes back nine starters from its Division 3 North championship team.

Methuen and Billerica should battle it out for third place in MVC Division 1.

Division 1 consists of Andover, Central Catholic, Methuen, Billerica and Haverhill.

Defending MVC Div. 2 champ Chelmsford, which last year qualified for the state tournament for the first time in 11 years, will be ably challenged by Tewksbury and Dracut.

Division 2 consists of Chelmsford, Lowell, Tewksbury, Dracut and Notre Dame.

Coach: Dick Loschi (17th year, 226-60-33)

2000 record: 15-4-3, lost in Division 1 North semifinals

Outlook: There aren't too many gaping holes with 17 of 22 letterman back. Defender Lisa Tylus is an Eagle-Tribune All-Star and Julia Gatti made the league all-star team. Midfielder Kaitlin Hill, back from a serious knee injury, will complement Muller at midfield.

A lot of coaches are picking Central Catholic to wrest the crown from Andover, but the Golden Warriors won't go down without a fight.

"You've got to knock me off the top of the hill before you say you're the favorite," said Loschi.

Returning starters (9): Katie Kramer, Sr., forward; Lisa Tylus, Sr., defender; Jenny Muller, Jr., midfielder; Allison Dexter, Sr., defender; Courtney Hale, Jr., midfielder; Meghan Charlebois, Jr., midfielder; Julia Gatti, Jr., defender; Kaitlin Hyde, Sr., goalie; Natasha Camilo, Sr., defender

Returning lettermen: Kathy Murphy, Sr., midfielder; Amy Galluzzo, Sr., forward; Ashley Faulk, Jr., forward; Liz Sullivan, Sr., forward; Jackie Alexander, Jr., defender; Molly Klarman, Sr., defender; Sloan McCauley, Sr., midfielder; Missy Carpentier, Jr., defender

Promising newcomers: Kaitlin Hill, Sr., midfielder; Liz Little, Sr., defender; Melissa Bligh, Sr., midfielder; Colleen Vispoli, Sr., forward; Layal Hanna, Soph., forward

#2. CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Coach: Amy Quinlan (6th year, 40-34-21)

2000 record: 13-5-3, lost in Division 3 state semifinals

Outlook: The Raiders captured the first girls sectional title for any sport in school history. This year they are out to make some more history in the form of the team's first MVC Division 1 championship.

Attitude won't be a problem. "The girls all want it," said coach Amy Quinlan.

Central returns three adept scorers in all-conference midfielder Sara Vienneau (14 goals) and conference all-stars Casey Grange (17 goals) and Brigid Hegarty (11 goals).

Returning starters (9): Callie Comtois, Sr., striker; Maggie Ebert, Sr., midfield; Bethany Knight, Sr., back; Kelli Carberry, Sr., back; Brigid Hegarty, Sr., striker; Sara Vienneau, Sr., midfield; Nikki Grandmaison, Sr., midfield; Casey Grange, Jr., striker; Ashley Riley, Jr., back

Returning lettermen: Lyndi Savastano, Jr., striker; Dominique Caruso, Jr., back; Caitlin Thomann, Sr., midfield; Gillian Mundry, Jr., striker; Colleen Kehoe, Jr., midfield

Promising newcomers: Riley Doherty, Jr., midfield; Erica Heilmann, Jr., goalie; Kara Kobelski, Jr., goalie; Steph Forzese, Jr., back; Jade Kusnierski, Soph., midfield; Bridget MacLeod, Soph., midfield; Catherine Farnham, Soph., midfield; Janelle LaRose, Jr., striker; Alaina Iannazzi, Frosh., back; Meg McCleary, Frosh., back

#3. METHUEN

Coach: Mike Bolduc (2nd year, 10-5-4)

2000 record: 10-5-4, lost in Division 1 North first round

Outlook: Methuen has some intriguing pieces to the puzzle, but coach Mike Bolduc just isn't sure how he'll implement them. "I might have to sacrifice some scoring for defense," he said.

Merrimack Valley Conference All-Stars Anika Apar (14 goals, 6 assists) and Danielle Roberge (8 goals, 8 assists) are potent offensive performers but Apar could be moved to defense.

"Anika can play anywhere," Bolduc said. "She's just so fast and so tough."

Returning starters (6): Shannon Augeri, Sr., goalie; Charissa Lavigne, Sr., sweeper; Kristi Gallo, Sr., stopper; Danielle Roberge, Sr., forward; Anika Apar, Soph., forward; Kacie Gallo, Soph., midfielder

Returning lettermen: Brooke Dessinger, Jr., defense; Gina Marcello, Jr., midfielder-forward; Heather MacLeod, Jr., goalie-midfielder; Youree Choi, Jr., forward; Kristen Harding, Soph., defense

Promising newcomers: Abby Dyson, Soph., defense; Jen Marino, Frosh., midfielder-forward; Caitlin Burke, Frosh., midfielder-forward; Jamie Quine, Frosh., midfielder; Kerri Bennett, Frosh., defense

#4. BILLERICA

Last Year: 12-4-4; North Sectional quarterfinalist

Coach: Tom Severo (18th season): "We've got our hands full with every game in the league ... but we have the same expectation each year -- try to win the league and put ourselves in position to make a serious run in the state tournament."

Returning Starters: Christine Baker, sr., mdf; Daniela Ferrara, sr., fwd; Kristen Green, sr., def; Laura Hallee, sr., def; Laura Zekanovic, sr., mdf; Becky Conway, jr., gk

Other Returning Letterwinners: Marta Rodrigues, sr., fwd; Kathy Tasso, sr., mdf-def; Trisha Bly, sr., def-mdf.

Promising Newcomers: Brittany Allen, jr., fwd; Meghan Allen, jr., def; Jesse Carideo, jr., def; Erika Knowles, jr., mdf; Jamie Schepici, jr., mdf; Ashley Martell, jr., fwd; Chrissy Lamar, so., def; Colleen Mee, fr., mdf.

#5. CHELMSFORD

Last Year: 7-7-5; tournament qualifier for first time in 11 years.

Coach: Anne Murnane (2nd season):

"We're really looking to build and improve on last season. The players are coming into this season with a lot more confidence in themselves. We have a great group of core players that work hard. Our strength is our defense. We should do well."

Returning Starters: Jill DeRosa, sr., fwd; Jocelyn Newell, sr., def; Lora Mead, sr., mdf; Kerry Buckley, jr., def; Jenna Tulley, so., fwd; Katie Campopiano, so., gk-mdf; Gretchen Gallagher, so., def.

Other Returning Letterwinners: Erika Schmid, jr., def; Allison DeFreitas, jr., mdf.

Promising Newcomers: Natalie Scott, sr., def; Alyssa Andricopoulos, sr., fwd; Lindsey Valcourt, jr., def; Theresa Bergazzi, so., mdf; Allison Wellman, so., gk; Micaella Panessiti, fr., fwd; Elizabeth Black, fr., def; Amanda Hibbard, fr., mdf; Melissa Hunt, so., fwd; Stephanie McAllister, jr., def; Sarah Buckley, so., mdf; Erica Glidden, so., mdf.

#6 DRACUT

#7. TEWKSBURY

Last Year: 9-8-2; tournament qualifier.

Coach Bob Manzi (10th season):

"We're a veteran team with 11 seniors returning. We're predominantly a junior-senior team. Making the states last year for the first time in seven years was good for us. We had 25 freshmen come out, the largest turnout we've had. We have a good defense, an excellent goalkeeper (Kelly Boyle) and people who can score."

Returning Starters: Leah Boudreau, sr., mdf; Rachel Burke, sr., mdf-gk; Emma DelloRusso, sr., def; Nicole Johnson, sr., mdf; Crystal Ornelas, sr., fwd; Lindsy Orpen, sr., def; Julie Salvato, sr., fwd; Mandy Venuti, sr., def; Courtney Walls, sr., fwd; Jackie Greer, jr., fwd; Maria Afouxenides, jr., mdf; Krystal Spencer, jr., mdf; Lauren Bagley, so., def; Kelly Boyle, jr., gk.

Promising Newcomers: Vicky Gondola, sr., def; Nicole Murphy, sr., def; Kristi Marsh, sr., def; Eleni Afouxenides, fr., mdf; Sarah Russell, fr., fwd.

Coach: Susan Stanley (2nd year, 1-17)

2000 record: 1-17, didn't make state tourney

Outlook: Coach Sue Stanley is hoping for a breakthrough season after a difficult 2000 campaign.

"I like this team," she said. "Our goal is to go .500. It will be a long process. We will have to be on top of our game to reach our goal."

Returning starters (6): Meghan Paszko, Sr., halfback; Danielle Huberdeau, Sr., halfback; Lauren Kimball, Sr., goalie; Adriana Zeledon, Sr., fullback; Simone Elia, Jr., fullback; Shauna Murray, Sr., halfback

Returning lettermen: Jen Fortin, Sr., halfback; Beth Petrycki, Sr., forward; Melissa Lalli, Sr., defense; Lauryn Howard, Sr., defense

Promising newcomers: Casey Moran, Frosh., defense; Sarah Grant, Frosh., defense; Natalia Mendoza, Frosh., forward; Kayla Danahy, Soph., forward; Amanda Laorenza, Soph., defense; Liz LeBlanc, Jr., halfback; Gwen Kearns, Jr., forward; Colleen Catoggio, Jr., forward; Emily Lyons, Jr., halfback/goalie; Christine Lesiczka, Jr., halfback

#9. LOWELL

Last Year: 2-13-3

Coach Bob Paquin (2nd season):

"We're still a young team. Many of the players lack varsity experience. But the team is working hard. I think we're good enough to challenge all comers, but we have to step it up a notch."

Returning Starters: Nicole Thurston, jr., def; Courtney Keefe, jr., def; Katelyn Elliott, jr., fwd; Alli Beausoleil, jr., mdf; Andrea Staid, jr., mdf; Ellie Kennedy, so., mdf.

Promising Newcomers: Deborah Costa, fr., fwd; Jessica Bucchio, fr., fwd; Jennylyn Gallego, so., def; Ashley Cote, so., mdf; Abigail DeAngelo, so., gk; Katelyn Moloney, jr., mdf; Sara Bruneles, so., def.

#10. NOTRE DAME

Last Year: Tournament qualifier.

Coach Alison Bourke (1st season): "We're replacing some key people who left, but we have a fairly strong defense and some skilled midfielders, and that's what we're banking on. We have freshman forwards who are getting used to being bumped around. Midfield and defense appears to be a strength."

Returning Starters: Marisa Curtis, sr., def; Katie Pilat, sr., mdf; Kristin McNiff, sr., mdf-fwd; Nicole Chadwick, sr., mdf; Casey Kolodziej, jr., def; Erica Newcomer, jr., def; Laura Paquette, jr., gk; Shiva Yarbod, so., mdf.

Other Returning Letterwinners: Angela Broad, sr., fwd; Cassie Carvalho, jr., mdf; Kaitlyn Grant, jr., fwd; Melanie Moore, jr., mdf.

Promising Newcomers: Marie Anderson, sr., def; Mary Ellen Gianino, jr., def; Katie Goes, jr., def; Rachel Graf, jr., gk; Payal Agrawal, so., fwd; Julianne Lord, fr., fwd; Laura Shanteler, fr., fwd.