WMA Girls' Soccer well-represented in local soccer league final

Wilbraham & Monson Academy didn’t officially have a women’s team entered into the local Pioneer Valley Summer Soccer League this season.

The championship game, however, was filled with current and past players from the Academy when the Western Mass. Xtremes faced the Western Mass. Storm Aug. 2 in Ludlow.

“It was a great experience to watch the recent Women's Pioneer Valley Summer Soccer League championship game and fully enjoy the fact that the WMA Girls’ Varsity Soccer program was well represented with five alums and one current player involved with both teams,” WMA Girls’ Soccer Coach Don Nicholson said.

“The Xtremes won the game 3-1 and I found myself in the unique position of cheering on each team equally."

Christina Wakefield ’14, Molly Moran ’13 and Molley Shea ’13 suited up for the Xtremes, while Carly Cronin ’13, Brielle Robinson ’13 and Brie Bates ’11 played for the Storm.

“It was great playing against the girls who graduated last year, like Carly and Brielle,” Christina said. “I hadn’t seen them all summer so I got to see them again. And playing with Molly Moran and Molley Shea, it was great being on the same team as them.”

Christina, one of the top high school players in New England, scored a pair of goals and was named MVP of the game.

“Christina Wakefield scored two goals for the Xtremes and was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship game, which is certainly an extraordinary achievement for a high school player to achieve in a league composed mostly of college-age players and older."

“It was awesome to be named MVP,” Christina said. “I didn’t expect it at all. I was focused on winning the game. Winning the MVP was a plus.”