By MARC THALER
Staff Writer

MOORE THAN MEETS THE EYE – The Candia Moore School girls soccer team saw a remarkable unbeaten streak end in the Class S Tri-County finals. But the squad remains a marvel to its coach, Larry Stacy, who has been impressed with the team’s maturity and camaraderie. The Lady Lancers include, back row from left: Elizabeth Lewis, Katy Finch, Carol Messler, Alyssa Chambers, Ashley Whitfield, Amanda Lade, Moriah Sargent, Elyse McKay and coach Larry Stacy. Kneeling from left: Julia Lopez, Emily Godfrey, Amanda Roberge, Ashley Petrin, Meredith Ridley, Katy Tremblay and Kelsey Conrad. Front row from left: Cassey Muse, captain; Jordan Muse, captain; Kaylee Thrasher; and Cassandra Stacy, captain. (Courtesy Photo)

CANDIA – They were loaded with experience, veteran leadership, talent and will forever have the resume to prove it.

Surprisingly, the Moore School soccer team – owners of a 34-0-1 record with a pair of championships in the last three seasons prior to their ‘04 playoff run – never thought of themselves as a special squad in Class S Tri-County competition.

“They (were) just really tuned in to each game,” coach Larry Stacy said. “It’s not that there (was) a lack of confidence. They’ve just been playing together for so long they (saw) where they could be better.”

In fact, many of the girls have played soccer together since they were 5 years old, Stacy said. That familiarity allowed the girls to “play more intuitively” with “good passing, excellent shooting and great defense.”

And it was tough to be more dominant than 10-0 at the end of the ’04 regular season, scoring 56 goals and allowing just 12 to the opposition. As a result, Candia’s crew earned the top seed in the second season.

With their top-ranked status, the locals defeated Sanborn on Wednesday, Oct. 27, to advance to the championship game against Wilton on Friday, Oct. 29.

Despite a valiant effort, Candia’s girls dropped a 1-0 decision to Wilton. After surrendering the game’s only goal in the opening two minutes, Candia couldn’t get the equalizer, as defense dominated the rest of the way.

“Watching this game and how the players handled themselves showed me what they have accomplished this year,” Stacy said. “During this game, which was the most intense this year, every player came into the game and gave it everything they had.”

Several of Candia’s contributors insisted on playing, Stacy said, despite nursing nagging injuries. Ashley Whitfield and Amanda Roberge were two of the athletes who played through pain and showed a tremendous amount of heart, Stacy added.

The Moore School was led by eighth-grade tri-captains Jordan and Cassey Muse and Cassandra Stacy, plus eighth-graders Alyssa Chambers, Kelsey Conrad, Katy Finch, Emily Godfrey, Elizabeth Lewis, Julia Lopez, Elyse McKay, Meredith Ridley, Roberge, Moriah Sargent and Whitfield.

Seventh-graders included Amanda Lade, Carol Messler, Ashley Petrin and Katy Tremblay. Sixth-grader Kaylee Thrasher completed the special roster.

“Every year, the team has a different personality,” Stacy said. “This year’s team (was) very focused. They (were) very much a soccer group. Not that they weren’t last year, but I only had three eighth-graders. This year’s eighth-graders were a little less focused (as seventh-graders).”

Stacy said this group was motivated to play at the same championship level as past teams. Still, his ultimate objective wasn’t to win another title, and it wasn’t necessarily the girls’ top priority either.

For the coach, entering his eighth and final season at the helm of the girls program, the most important job has always been to prepare as many girls as possible for high school soccer.

Stacy asked the players, particularly the 14 eighth-graders, what they wanted from their final middle school soccer season. The collective response was “a combination of winning another championship banner and making sure everyone played a lot.”

Although the girls didn’t get that banner, the second half of their season-long goal showed Stacy “ ... these kids are a little more mature and wiser than I might’ve pegged them to be. It’s good to see the kids have a better understanding of what sports are all about.”

And for the coach, team records and trophies don’t compare to the squad’s tremendous team chemistry.

“Overall, the effect of coaching middle school soccer is that no matter how bad of a day you’re having, you walk away with a smile on your face because they have so much energy,” Stacy said. “Working with roughly 20 kids every year has just been a positive experience that I’m gonna miss the most. It’s huge.”