Last year, Bedford was the new kid on the Class I field hockey block, and the players looked the part.

This season, the Lady Bulldogs took their experience from a winless 2007 campaign and translated it into three victories.

“The team has really improved tremendously over the season,” said head coach Jill Corson. “They are … really taking the skills we practice and applying it on the field. They have great heart and spirit, and that really makes a difference in how hard they play. We are still a young team, but their hard work shows in their increased level of play and how they never give up.”

Next year, Corson said her team should be ready to contend with the best Class I has to offer.

“Our expectations are to start the season well conditioned and to go out and play competitively,” she continued. “With the amount of improvement they have shown this year, next season they will really be a team to watch out for.”

Though a top-four tournament seed is a lofty goal, Corson said it isn’t unobtainable with a full complement of players. Reaching the playoffs, of course, is the first priority.

This year’s lot was led by junior backfielders Hailey Brennan and Dominique Theroux, who assumed the role of vocal leaders, while classmate Kelsey Poremba, the team’s third captain, turned in fine – sometimes spectacular – midfield play.

Poremba notched the program’s second hat trick in Bedford’s first home win, a 4- 0 triumph against Pembroke Academy on Oct. 8.

The Lady Bulldogs’ first three-goal performance came from sophomore forward Morgan Karanasios in a 5-1 win at John Stark on Sept. 5.

Another sophomore, Caitlyn Cannone, exemplifies hard work and dedication, said Corson, while sophomore goalie Ashley Donahue has made a habit of making remarkable saves in net.

Others contributing this season include juniors Bethany Currier, Colleen Geraghty and Jessica Hughes; sophomores Cora Healey, Stephanie Kuhn, Nicolle Siegart and Andrea Wilson; and freshmen Nicole Marinelli and Haylie Matta.

The team adds several quality junior varsity players to the aforementioned lot, making next season that much more promising, said Corson, who added her players will spend the offseason growing as players – and people.

The Lady Bulldogs are organizing a day to read to fourthgraders, during which they will encourage those children to join athletic endeavors and other activities. The team is also planning summer camps to promote future field hockey participation.

After all, with the enormous amount of support offered by the school, community and parents, the girls, said Corson, are happy to give back.