Waltham Girls Soccer hopes for fast start this fall 

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Waltham High School girls soccer team played in a summer league. They hit the weights hard throughout the offseason — competing in friendly fitness challenges — setting the tone for a fast start this fall.

After missing the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 1 tournament last season, the Hawks eye a return to the postseason. 

“If we want to play in November, we have to do it in June, July and August,” coach Sydney Lindstrom said. “I just think that building the camaraderie and this focused, hard-working attitude from the younger grades all the way through is what’s going to do it this year.”

The Hawks went 5-11-2 last fall, narrowly missing a spot in the MIAA Division 1 tournament. They last qualified for the postseason in 2023 for a third consecutive year. Before then, the program suffered a decade-plus postseason drought. 

Missing the tournament last year motivated the returning 13 varsity players and those vying for spots throughout the program to begin training for this fall earlier than usual. Senior captain Abby Morse and classmate Quinn Gavin, alongside a posse of experienced juniors, set the tone.

“It’s just the commitment to want to make the tournament,” Lindstrom said. 

Morse, who previously played defense, will move to her natural forward position. She’ll be tasked with setting the table offensively, whether that’s taking shots or creating for teammates. Gavin is a steady goalkeeper. 

The juniors include backs Kelly Buxton, Gianna Tempesta and Sarah Pourmousa and midfielders Sabrina Ellard, Dylan Remage-Healey and Maria Kontogianni. A new formation looked strong during a preseason jamboree. 

Lindstrom, an English teacher at the high school, took over the program in 2016 after three years leading the junior varsity group. Both of last year’s Dual County League All-Stars, Talar Bedrossian, and Mikayla Ryan, graduated, leaving ample opportunity for new faces to step up. She likes the promise of the incoming freshman group, including four who made the varsity team. Sporting enough players for two junior varsity teams instead of one like last fall is another good sign for the program. 

Matches to watch include Dual County League-Foley Division bouts including Senior Night vs. Boston Latin on Monday, Sept. 29, home and away matches against Wayland and road matches at Weston and Bedford. Plus, late-season matches against DCL-Thorpe teams like Acton-Boxborough, Concord-Carlisle and Lincoln-Sudbury offer measuring-stick challenges.

This year’s team theme is “connect.” It’s printed on their practice jerseys, and the guiding mantra for what the program hopes is a rebound season. 

“We’re going to keep building up the trust with each other to be able to play the best game we can,” Lindstrom said. “The girls really seem to be clicking.”