FITCHBURG — Jeb Booth takes over as the head coach of the Fitchburg State University women’s soccer team this season. Although he did not have the opportunity to go out on the recruiting trail, and is instead inheriting his entire team, he is still pleased with what he has for talent on the squad.
With a predominantly young and eager team, Booth hopes to establish some stability in a program that has seen a lot of fluctuation in recent years.
“The team has experienced a lot of coaching turnover in a very short period of time,” Booth said. “The primary goal is to provide stability and try to coach them in such a way that they’re learning the style of play that is more in tune with where I think we need to be as a team and as a sport.”
The top goal this season for the team is to make the postseason conference tournament, and in the MASCAC the top six finishers qualifier, with the top four seeds hosting at least one contest. Ideally, Booth hopes to strive for a home game.
The MASCAC coaches preseason poll picked the Falcons to finish sixth overall in the conference, so if that holds true, the primary goal will be met.
“My goal is to have us come in at fourth,” Booth said. “I think the poll was based on previous seasons and I think it was fair. I don’t really have a problem with it, considering that last year they came in seventh and the previous year they did, as well. I don’t think it is an insult in any way.”
Booth has a boatload of valuable coaching experience, serving as an assistant at Framingham State University for the past three years. He also coaches a pro-am team, the New England Mutiny, and has been coaching the past 10years with the Scorpions Soccer Club, a youth club.
There are nine newcomers to the team, with eight freshmen and one transfer player. Out of the remaining 11 players on the team, nine are upperclassmen, numbers that have dwindled over the past couple of years.
“I’d say we’re a fairly young team,” Booth said. “I’d also say there’s been so much turnover that a number of upperclassmen left the team and didn’t come back. They weren’t super happy with all the transitions.”
The remaining veterans on the roster are eager to build the program, and create more consistency on the team.
“I think generally it is true (that it is easy to start a new approach with younger players), but I think the upperclassmen who have stuck with the program are really hungry for some leadership and making an imprint on this team,” Booth said. “So I think they are really embracing the culture and community I’m trying to build with them.”
Booth characterizes his style as “possession with a purpose,” in which there is an understanding of when to work from the back line and when to play through at a fast pace. It’s a combination of being a possession-oriented team that can play quickly when needed, he says.
“It’s not one style of play, back-to-front, that a lot of teams do,” Booth said. “I’m trying to teach them to read the game and understand the game, and be students of the game, and not just, ‘Every time I get the ball, do this.’”
Senior Tess Angelosanto and freshmen Elizabeth Read and Taylin Surrette have been the starters on the forward line for the Falcons so far this season.
“The forwards have a really high work-rate,” Booth said. “They’re still learning the movement and style I want them to play, but they are hard workers and give me everything that they’ve got.”
The formation features three midfielders, and Booth is still sampling with different combinations. Most frequently in the mix are junior Shannon McCarthy and senior captain Brittny Peralta — a St. Bernard’s graduate. Shannon Burke and Madeline Kuntz are battling for the final starting spot.
“Peralta has an incredibly positive attitude,” Booth said. “She came in fit, and I’m really impressed with her. She and our other captain, McKenzie Tenney, I’ve been super impressed with their leadership on and off the field.”
On defense, starting center-backs are Tenney and Micalea Goldenberg. Outside are Kayla Baker and freshman Allison Gough.
“The defense is really gritty,” Booth said. “They work hard and look to attack out of the back whenever possible. The pressure-cover balance is really scrappy as a unit.”
Last year’s starting goalkeeper, Sarah Hemmings, is returning but is recovering from an injury. Her status on the playing field is underdetermined at this time. In lieu of that, freshman Dania Politi and sophomore Emily Vitale are splitting starting minutes to see who pulls ahead prior to conference play.
Fitchburg State opened the year with a 2-0 win over Dean College, before dropping a 3-2 contest to Colby-Sawyer and 3-1 loss to Becker College. Other non-conference games of note are an Oct. 15 battle at WPI, Lesley at home Oct. 29, and Suffolk on the road Saturday.
“I was pleased with the loss to Colby-Sawyer because they are a really competitive team,” Booth said. “I don’t think the Becker score showed the actual tempo of the game, and I was disappointed with how it finished, but not with our performance overall.”
