Chelsea Fires It Up
In Undefeated Season
By Mary Childs

The Chelsea girls’ lacrosse team wrapped up their regular season with a 13-4 win over U-32 Saturday to maintain their undefeated season. Not only did they maintain their perfect record, but they also maintained their reputation of winning games by no less than eight goals.

With the Red Devils’ perfect record of 14-0 they earned the number one seed in Division II girls lacrosse. The Devils seemed to burn every team in their path this season as they continue to fire up for the road to the championship.

Chelsea’s domination has been attributed to several key factors, the biggest one being that it is a team effort, with numerous and different girls scoring in every game. The old school basic strategy of "team" frustrates opponents as they have to mark up not only on one or two key players but 17.

Chelsea seniors Kim Upham, Althea Spencer and Willa Capobianco lead the forces, with Upham scoring in every game, Spencer controlling the midfield and offense, and Capobianco holding down the defensive fort. Adding to the trio are juniors Sam Bonasera, Grace Amber, Jodi Emerson, Brenda Manning, and Becky Frye. Bonasera and Amber give the other team something to worry about when they have the ball as their fast feet and ball handling abilities serve the Lady Devils like spokes on a wheel. Emerson and Manning have tallied several of their own goals this season as Manning and Frye are constantly heard encouraging and instructing their teammates.

Katie Cooper and Hillary Bonasera represent the sophomores at Chelsea. Cooper is another brick in the wall of the defensive squad that keeps the scoring from opponents to a minimum as H. Bonasera only makes the offensive end of Chelsea stronger adding goals of her own throughout the season. Michelle Upham, Hope Royce, Courtney Sanford and Morgan Tuller are freshman, but by now most teams know that they cannot be underestimated. Tuller is a standout with her impressive defensive plays in the net as she serves the Devils as goalie and rarely lets more than four goals past her in a game. The eighth grade trio of Whitney Ladd, Jasmine Braman and Ellen Blanchard rounds off the team.

The entire team could be named to the Vermont All star teams but a few especially stood out to coaches around the state. Making the first D-II Vermont All Star girls lacrosse team were K. Upham, Amber, Spencer, and S. Bonasera. Keeper Tullar made the second team as H. Bonasera, Emerson, and M. Upham received honorable mentions.

With this vast spectrum of players Chelsea has been able to diversify their scorers and the positions each girl plays. Coach John Parker has said that their success is due to the strength that every position on the field has. This strength has lead Chelsea to a total of 213 goals in the regular season Tullar has only allowed 35 goals into the net.

Despite the Devils’ loss in the 2007 D-II Championship, Chelsea is ready and gearing up for the 2008 title. Because every player has the ability to score opposing teams will have a challenging time defending the undefeated Devils.

The Devils defeated threats Randolph and Hartford in the regular season, but another notorious threat includes Burr and Burton, who they have not yet had to face this season but faced in the championship in 2007 and 2005. Despite Chelsea High School’s small size, they have been able to produce a powerhouse team of girls with one thing in mind; winning the Vermont D-II girls lacrosse title.

The Lady Devils will welcome the winner of the Sharon Academy vs. St. J Academy game to the Devil’s Den Saturday June 7, at 4:30 p.m.