It was a strong season for the female student-athletes on Cape Ann this fall. Together, the Gloucester, Rockport, and Manchester Essex Regional field hockey and girls soccer teams amassed 53 wins and an additional 15 ties, with four of those programs qualifying for state tournament play.
Here are the female all-stars from the 2023 fall sports season:
SYDNEY BOUCHIE
Rockport field hockey
Leading her team in scoring for another season, this senior captain and standout performer paced the Vikings with nine goals and three assists for 12 points. She was chosen as a Cape Ann League all-star for her efforts.
A selfless player who put her teammates in position to succeed while always giving them positive feedback, Bouchie was a like a coach on the field for Rockport. A five-year varsity player, her contributions on and off the field will be greatly missed next fall.
ELLA CHAFE
Manchester Essex Field Hockey
A senior midfielder who was chosen as Cape Ann League First Team all-star, Chafe starred in the midfield for the CAL Baker champions. As strong as her on-field contributions were, she was just as, if not valuable, off the field as a team leader.
Chafe picked up seven goals and six assists in her final season with the Hornets. She was a key player in helping her teammates offensively during their playoff run with two assists.
SABINE COOPER
Manchester Essex Cross Country
This junior speedster improved by leaps and bounds throughout the season, as her times showed. Consistently the top runner for the Hornets in Cape Ann League races, she really shone in big meets and state competition.
Cooper ran a personal best 20:32.6 at the MIAA Division 2 state qualifier the second weekend in November, placing 17th among all competitors. That broke her previous best 5K mark by almost five seconds (20:37.2) set a month earlier at the Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational. She also earned a 12th finish at the CAL Championships.
ELLA COSTA
Gloucester Field Hockey
A senior and the third-leading scorer for the Fishermen, Costa — named to the Northeastern Conference’s All-Conference team — finished her final season by scoring a dozen goals and adding 10 assists. Opponents always had to be aware of wherever she was on the field because of her ability to impact the game.
She was one of the best players on the field no matter what team that Gloucester was playing. Costa had outstanding knowledge of the game, which translated to how she performed on the turf, while possessing outstanding stick skills and athleticism.
PHILEINE DE WIDT
Manchester Essex Field Hockey
A senior captain and Second Team Cape Ann League all-star, de Widt was a rock on defense for a Hornets team that allowed just 15 goals the entire season, earning the No. 2 seed in the Division 4 state playoffs and reaching the state semifinals.
She has been recognized as a patient and reliable teammate who never missed a chance to take possession of the ball on the field. Her long hits on the ball helped her teammates build numbers in the circle.
MADI COOK
Manchester Essex Soccer
A First Team Cape Ann League all-star junior goaltender, Cook made over 150 saves and recorded seven clean sheets in 18 games.
She was her teams ‘Player of the Match’ in their first game of the season vs. Hamilton Wenham. She made 20 saves in that game alone, including saving a breakaway and a penalty in the final two minutes. Cook finished the regular season off with another ‘Player of the Match’ performance against Georgetown. Her season ended after keeping one more clean sheet in the Hornets’ first playoff game.
ALLISON GEORGE
Rockport soccer
An electric junior goalkeeper in net who made a number of unbelievable saves that other coaches would speak to her coach, Garrett Stevens, about after a game in awe. They’d routinely mention how talented she was and were surprised upon finding out that this fall was her first full season in net.
The sky is the limit for George, who looks to make an even bigger mark on the pitch as a senior for the Vikings next fall. Being named a team captain would not surprise anyone who watched her play.
ABBY KENT
Manchester Essex Field Hockey
A sophomore First Team All-Cape Ann League performer for the Baker Division champions, this skilled forward and midfielder secured herself 14 goals and 12 assists while guiding the Hornets into the Division 4 state semifinals.
Kent was the squad’s third-leading scorer and created many more offensive opportunities with her sharp passing and vision. In the state playoffs, she had four goals and two assists in four games.
TORRIN KIRK
Manchester Essex Field Hockey
A senior captain, forward and Second Team Cape Ann League all-star, Kirk was the leading goal scorer for Manchester Essex, popping 18 shots past opposing goalies while also dishing out seven assists for 25 points.
As a player who was known for being aggressive on the field and always displaying grit no matter the circumstances, Kirk secured herself four goals and three assists in her team’s playoff run.
LIBBY LAWLER
Manchester Essex Soccer
Finishing the 2023 campaign with three goals and eight assists, this strong facilitator and heads-up junior was rewarded for her efforts by earning Cape Ann League Second Team all-star accolades.
She was a driving force in the midfield for the Hornets and a ‘Player of the Match’ in an away contest against Amesbury, as well as in a home game against Georgetown. She also scored an incredible goal straight off a corner kick in Manchester Essex’s Division 4 playoff contest at Monomoy.
TAIYA MANO
Gloucester Soccer
A junior and All-Northeastern Conference selection, Mano paced the Fishermen in scoring with 23 goals and nine assists to finish with 32 points, nearly a point-and-a-half per game.
Mano’s hustle is unparalleled and her continuous growth to strive to get better every season is what gave her the recognition she received. The standout player leads by lifting others up while also leading by example, a very special quality to have. She also has won coaches’ kudos across the league by being a top 12 all conference player.
MECHI O’NEIL
Manchester Essex Soccer
A Cape Ann League Second Team all-star, this senior forward scored 13 goals and provided two assists this season while displaying excellent footwork and dribbling skills.
She was the Hornets’ most consistent attacking threat this fall. Some highlights of her season were a 4-goal game against Amesbury and her last minute game-winner against Ipswich.
CAELIE PATRICK
Manchester Essex Field Hockey
A senior captain, Patrick was chosen as the Cape Ann League Baker Division’s Player of the Year after finishing with 17 goals and 17 assists for the league champions. She was among the North Shore’s leaders in goals, assists and points.
Patrick continued to show her leadership in the playoffs, where she created five assists and tallied four goals of her own. She’ll head off to Division 1 Providence College to continue her field hockey career.
MORGAN PENIMPEDE
Gloucester Soccer
A senior all-star player finished her final season of high school soccer at Gloucester High by scoring three goals and handing out one assist this season in her new position of sweeper.
Her coach, Katina Tibbetts, put her there at the beginning of the season to figure out where people should go for the team to reach their goal. She quickly realized that she was the final puzzle piece of making it to the tournament. Although it was not her favorite position, Penimpede demonstrated a key quality of a captain doing what they have to do to be there for their team.
LILY PREGENT
Gloucester Field Hockey
A senior forward and Northeastern Conference all-star, Pregent was one of most dangerous scorers in the league. She popped home 21 goals, second best on her team, and added nine assists for an excellent 30-point campaign.
Pregent was a force for the Fishermen on the offensive line. Her speed was intimidating and her dedication to scoring was outstanding.
ARI SCOLA
Gloucester Field Hockey
A player whose unselfishness on the field spoke volumes, she paced the Fishermen with 16 assists while also scoring a pair of goals. She earned Northeastern Conference all-star accolades.
She was a force in the midfield, working in tandem with Anna Cinelli to create on-field magic. Together, they worked well together hustling up the right side. Scola was also tremendous with stopping opponents by stealing the ball, then firing it up the field to help jump-start the GHS attack.
ABBY STAUFFER
Gloucester Soccer
With five goals and nine assists this fall, this senior standout was Gloucester’s third-leading scorer on the pitch. For her efforts, she was picked as a Northeastern Conference all-star performer.
Stauffer led by example and with so much grace. The younger players looked to her as a role model because she had a way of weaving through players and distributing the ball up top, which proved to be key to the Fishermen’s success.
BEZAWIT STRONG
Rockport soccer
A senior captain and center midfield who channeled much of her team’s offense through her, Strong was awarded for her season-long efforts by being selected as a Cape Ann Second Team all-star. She had three goals and one assist, but her stats only scratched the surface of how important she was for the Vikings.
With a great first touch and ball skills, Strong is an excellent passer who also has an incredible shot and crossing ability. She’s someone who set high expectations for her teammates to follow and led the way with her play in every game and practice. Her attention to defense and keeping the ball out of her own team’s net showed how willing she was to sacrifice offense for defense.