By Jim Lockwood
Staff Writer

Winning a state championship is a glorious accomplishment. It brings prestige to the school, and the team takes tremendous pride in becoming the top squad in the state.

West senior talent Alyssa Thayer of Hooksett, seen here during Manchester West 2004 championship season, is one of many reasons why head coach Jack Amero - who recently recorded his 400th career victory - isn't overly concerned with the Blue Knights. offensive troubles at the start of the 2005 Class L campaign. (File Photo)

But the pressure to repeat also comes with claiming the crown. The rest of the league is simply out to dethrone the champs.

In 2004, Manchester West High School girls soccer team went a perfect 20-0 to win the Class L championship. Although the .05 season is in its infancy, the Blue Knights are already feeling the heat.

"Everyone best game will be against us," said senior captain Alyssa Thayer of Hooksett, a Division I prospect who already received offers from Siena, Canisius and Iona, and awaits possible scholarships from UNH and the University of Maine. "Everyone wants to break our streak."

This year senior class has won two of the last three state crowns and endured only one loss in the last two seasons. However, that one loss was taken hard, according to West veterans.

In '03, the Blue Knights were undefeated entering the state semifinals, but lost to Queen City rival Manchester Central.

Last year, West returned the favor with a 3-0 postseason win.

Duplicating last year feat will be challenging, too, because of the parity in Class L, according to head coach Jack Amero, who earned his 400th career win in a 3-0 season-opening victory against Salem.

In .'04, the Blue Knights won a substantial number of games by one goal, Amero added.

Once again, West will depend on its stingy defense, led by allstate sweeper Michelle Dickson, defensive backs Abby Green and Taylor Finley, stopper Mary Kitsis and talented netminder Melissa Vitigliano.

Through the locals. first three games of the fall campaign, they didn't allow a goal. But the head coach said improvements must be made.

With the exception of the Salem affair, West won its next two games against Pinkerton Academy of Derry and Londonderry by 1-0 counts.

Amero said opponents are playing their best defense against West - and the defending champs aren't matching that level of play to the head coach satisfaction.

Still, Amero said he isn't worried. His athletes can utilize their level of experience to snap out of the offensive funk, he added.

Amero wants his midfielders to play a vital role in the team offensive success. He expects to see his players taking the ball from defenses to create scoring chances.

All-state senior captain Leanne Vaillancourt will lead the offense at midfield, with assistance from sophomores Kim Shaughnessy and Alice Poole, as well as Thayer.

This year, according to Bedford Dickson, the pressure is on the Blue Knights. defense.

"It not because (the offense is) not scoring goals," said Dickson, referring to the source of the pressure. "It just a lot to live up to from last year." As a unit, West only allowed four regular-season goals in '04, she added.

The '05 Blue Knights include Bedford Kelsey Connors, Michelle Cummings, Katherine Deloid, Dickson, Elise Dinardo, Tori Earle, Finley, Green, Heather Harrington, Kitsis, Natalie Masci, Sarah Moore, Sam Myers, Poole, Shaughnessy, Allie Toth, Vaillancourt and Vitigliano; plus Hooksett Thayer; and Allyson Bellemore and Ashley Card.

"(With) anything less than a state championship they won't be satisfied," said Amero. "I know I won't be either."