2013 COACH'S OUTLOOK AND COMMENTS
The Rockets only lost once last season and have quality players coming back.
Photo by Dave Arnold
Wellesley. The football rivalry between Bay State Conference neighbors Needham and Wellesley took on legendary proportions over a century ago. In soccer, Needham was the No. 1 ranked team in the Boston area last fall and Wellesley wasn't ranked in the end, but Wellesley handed Needham its only loss of 2012, 2-0, on Sept. 7. Wellesley was headed for a stellar season as well after winning 11 of its first 13 but faded in the end. That may not happen again in 2013.
Senior Adam Lassman
Photo by Dave Arnold
Lack of experience and unknown intangibles. Last season's team had a special blend of talent, flair, chemistry and the ability to do what was needed. It was a veteran group. There's plenty of talent with this new group for 2013 but sometimes it takes a while for the pieces to come together. That's what time will tell.
National Look: Massachusetts has a proud tradition of being one of the great hosts to the United States National Team and great international and MLS events at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. It also hosted a portion of the 1994 World Cup in Foxboro. Like Needham, Somerville was another Top 25 team last season from Eastern Massachusetts while Ludlow, in Western Massachusetts, has long been a soccer hotbed and a prep power.
In Summary: "Losing eight seniors right down the middle and with every team going after us...we expect a very tough season. Last year's captains were very skilled players and at the moment we do not see many players that could fill their shoes. But we expect to be very competitive by the end of the season."
- Head coach Don Brock
