The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Questions? Bay has answers
Rockets expectations remain high even with large roster turnover
Coming off a state semifinal appearance, the Bay Rockets have more questions heading into 2017 than they’d like.
How will Bay replace the six starters it lost from last year?
How will it replace arguably the top player in the state and 2016 Morning Journal Player of the Year Maddie Holmes?
Will there be a state semifinals hangover for the players who do return?
No one around the program is using that as an excuse to temper the Rockets’ expectations, though.
In fact, Bay’s confidence hasn’t wavered.
“Going into the preseason in the summer, I was pretty nervous,” Bay coach Jack Griffiths, who is in his 10th season, said. “But the starters that we have back from last year are really stepping it up and so are some of the bench players. So I’m pretty confident.”
A question always posed when a large senior class graduates might already be answered for the Rockets: Who will lead the team?
Seniors Maddie Ault and Autumn Meisenburg are expected to take full reigns this year.
Ault, a midfielder, posted 14 goals and 12 assists a year ago, while Meisenburg, a forward, had eight goals and 13 assists. These two, now more than ever, will be leaned on to lead the Rockets back into state territory.
“We have a lot of speed this year,” Griffiths said. “So we’re going to score a lot of goals. Defense is a little weaker, so we might give up more than usual.”
Bay’s defense will be led by Haylee Duffy and Madison Wall, and the goalkeeper situation might be the best its ever been, with four players
who have potential to start. Sophomore Gigi Merk and junior Maeve Johnston are the leading contenders. The Rockets converted goalkeeper Caroline Fowles into a center back, but could use her in emergency situations along with freshman Tenley Allerding.
Offensively, there are multiple goal scorers with Ault, Meisenburg, Kelly Lenarth and Avery Alexy. They can score out of the back, too, where few defenders have the leg power to score from deep.
In fact, with so much
roster turnover, Ault said that it may be a blessing in disguise.
“We were a little nervous losing a lot of people, but the closer we get, I’m getting more excited,” Ault said. “People are stepping up more as a team this year. Hopefully we can get farther.”
With strong personalities from last season no longer in the picture, Ault wants to open up more as a leader.
“Last year, it was harder for me with some of the louder voices on the team,” she said. “But I’m trying to be more positive and influencing.”
Bay lost six 1-0 games last year, and goal scoring was an Achilles’ heal. But Ault believes it can be a strength this time around.
“I think we’re getting better and better offensively,” she added. “We’ll be scoring a lot throughout the season.”
The Great Lakes Conference is a challenging one, which includes powers Holy Name and Rocky River. Bay’s initial focus will be to beat those teams and win its third straight conference title.
Bay’s schedule is always
brutal. As a Division II school, the Rockets face nonconference opponents such as Magnificat, Dayton Carroll, Westlake, Lake Catholic, Avon, Hathaway Brown, Revere, Niles McKinley and Chagrin Falls.
On top of that, Bay plays in arguably the toughest girls district in Ohio.
But make no mistake about it — the prize of the season is another state berth.
“We’ve been playing well as a team and I think we can get just as far or even farther,” Ault said. “That would be pretty good for us.”