BY DAVE CHOATE

Last year, the John Stark varsity girls soccer team surprised everyone by advancing to the championship game for the first time in the program’s history. With four returning starters this year, the possibility of a repeat seems unlikely to most, but not Heather Doucet.

“I think we can have a repeat performance,” said the group’s head coach. “The team is showing all the heart and intensity last year’s squad showed me. We just lack experience at some positions.”

In all, the Lady Generals return seven players from the 2006 squad. Doucet said key players include senior center mid Joan Hamel, sophomore striker Lauren Macklin, senior midfielder Morgan Vogt, sophomore center mid Alyssa Charest and senior captain midfielder Laura Methot.

The biggest factor for Stark may be the schedule. Doucet said the team could absorb as many as six losses against the toughest Class I teams, including Oyster River, Bow and Fall Mountain Regional.

“The way this team’s progressing, we might have less than six losses by then. I have a couple freshmen on this squad that I feel are going to make a difference for us,” Doucet said. “It’s going to be a building year, but the kids have been working really hard.”