(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) GROWTH STOCK: Hun School girls’ soccer outside midfielder Blake Stockton kicks the ball in a game last season. The talented Stockton figures to be a force on the flank this fall for Hun as it looks to improve on the 6-9-1 record it posted last fall. The Raiders get their 2008 season underway by playing at Episcopal Academy on September 13 and at Princeton Day School on September 16.

With Addition of Collins, Focus on Basics, Hun Girls’ Soccer Figures To Be Dangerous

Bill Alden

Coming off a disappointing season last fall, Hun School girls’ soccer head coach Ken Stevenson is focusing on the basics as he readies his team for the 2008 campaign.

“It sounds simplistic but we need to learn how to score goals,” said Stevenson, whose team went 6-9-1 in 2007. “We won only two Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) games last year; that was embarrassing.”

Hun will bring new firepower to the task with the addition of post-graduate Arielle Collins, who helped lead Steinert to the Central Jersey Group IV title last fall.

“Arielle makes us better up top,” said Stevenson, who is entering his third year at the helm of the Hun program.

“Right now her greatest strength is her leadership and work ethic. We have Kathleen Coyle, Monica King, and Candace Whiteside playing with her; she has done a great job of taking them under her wing and giving them tips on what to do. She works hard all the time.”

As Hun wraps up its preseason, it is still working on the best way to deploy Collins.

“We also have to figure out how to use a target,” said Stevenson, whose team will get its 2008 season underway by playing at Episcopal Academy on September 13 and at Princeton Day School on September 16.

“The other teams are going to double her up; she is used to that. The question is when do we spring her and play the ball in space to her and when do we possess the ball and swing it around to someone else.”

Stevenson believes that Coyle, King, and Whiteside can produce when they get the ball.

“I’ve got to say that I am impressed with Coyle’s work ethic,” asserted Stevenson.

“She worked very hard in the offseason; she’s fit and fast. She’s always been extremely coachable. Monica and Candace were thrown into the deep end last year as freshmen. There should be less pressure on them with Arielle here. They can develop individually; that should help us over the long term.”

Hun figures to get plenty of help in the midfield from talented junior Blake Stockton.

“We moved Blake at right outside midfield midway through last season,” said Stevenson.

“She worked really hard in the offseason; she played a lot of club ball. She worked on her weaknesses. Her first touch was a little erratic last year; she’s really got it down this year. She likes the outside midfield position. It gives her space. She can attack the opponent in front of her and use her strength and speed.”

Stevenson believes he has strength in numbers in his midfield with such players as sophomore Ashton Dwyer, junior Julia Anthony, together with seniors Katie Monigan and Kim Campbell.

As for the back line, Hun will feature depth and savvy with senior Alex Their, juniors Lauren Shockley and Gina Fiori, and sophomore Brooke Bevans.

“They are veterans back there,” added Stevenson. “Alex has proven to be the vocal leader of the whole team as well as the back. Brooke Bevans is tall and incredibly calm. She is ridiculously tough.”

The Raiders have a tough customer in goal with the addition of promising freshman Lexi Golestani.

“Lexi loves playing goalie,” said Stevenson. “She’s committed; she’s very physical. She’s really smart; she plays the high crosses well, I haven’t seen her mess up on one yet. She’s played a lot of club soccer and she is vocal out there.”

In Stevenson’s view, Hun should grow into a formidable club as the fall unfolds.

“At this point every time we play, we figure out things a little more,” said Stevenson.

“My biggest expectation is that we will be much better by the end of the season. We have a ton of room to grow. I would like to compete for MAPL title and go deep in the state Prep tournament.”

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