By Ken Hamwey

Staff Sports Writer

Hearing the ‘D’ word is getting to be routine in Natick, especially after the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association soccer tournament ends and a Division 1 girls champion is crowned.

The Natick High girls soccer team, which defeated Franklin, 4-2, last fall, captured its  third State championship in five years. It isn’t odd that the Redhawks have won three trophies but they’ve all been secured in odd years, 2021, 2023 and 2025.  Can a dynasty exist without consecutive crowns? Perhaps, as some would argue, but co-head coach Denise Trubiano takes a common-sense approach on the issue.

“To be labeled a dynasty, I think we’d have to win it all again next season,’’ she said. One or two more in the immediate future would definitely qualify as a dynasty. It’s exciting to entertain the thought but I don’t like the pressure that puts on the girls.’’

Trubiano and co-head coach Kari-Ann Daley are acutely aware of the necessary changes that must be made from year to year. Also, factor in the time required to assess key decisions made in pre-season workouts, which last a mere two weeks.

“Each year we lose veteran players to graduation, new candidates try out, and we try to build team chemistry quickly,’’ Trubiano offered. “Our style of play may have to be altered because of new personnel. Building a team goes way beyond pre-season workouts.’’

Trubiano also emphasizes that interscholastic sports are cyclical. “We go year to year with different players, and vacancies have to be filled,’’ she noted. “There’s no guarantee of stability. Situations change.’’

One example of change was on defense. The coaches had to rebuild 75 percent of their backfield. “Lulu Wislocki-Wasecki was our only returnee,’’ Trubiano said. “Kaitlin Blair, Riley White and Ruthie Assencoa replaced graduates and did a good job. We scored 19 goals in the playoffs but we surrendered only three.’’

Both coaches credit team chemistry and coachable, unselfish players for the Redhawks return to the winner’s circle.

“We figured things out and understood who we were,’’ they said. “The girls were a close-knit group and they didn’t care who scored goals. Our striker, Nicole Proia, scored 17 goals and often was triple-teamed. But others stepped up and took the pressure off her.’’

Daley pinpointed how positive the atmosphere was.

“It’s what they do for us and what they do for each other that is just very, very special,” she said after the Redhawks title game. “They talked in pre-game huddles about winning it and playing for one another.’’

The fourth-seeded Redhawks led, 3-2, at halftime, thanks to a pair of goals by Abby McCauley and one by Nicole Proia. Franklin, however, came out strong in the first 20 minutes of the second half but, with 15 minutes left, Proia added an insurance goal that gave Natick some breathing room. 

“Franklin kept it close,’’ Trubiano said. “They’re an 80-minute team and they’re aggressive, physical and relentless. We knew we had to put the ball in the net, take advantage of opportunities and then hang on for dear life.’’ 

The Panthers, who were seeded No. 6 in the playoffs, went on a 12-2-1 run after a slow start and finished their season at 15-6-2. 

Franklin coach Jodi Klein knew her Panthers lost momentum after Proia’s second goal.  “Coming out of halftime, I thought we really controlled the first 20 minutes of the second half but that fourth goal really took the wind out of our sails,’’ she said. “Natick deserves credit. They’re a great team and a worthy champion.’’

Trubiano and Daley expressed high praise for their entire team but also cited the core group that led the Redhawks to a final record of 16-3-3.

The captains include McCauley (senior midfielder), Nicole Proia (senior striker) and Lydia Proia (senior midfielder). Also, Emilia Sousa (freshman striker), Kerrington Sherrif (sophomore striker), Marivieve McEleney (senior midfielder), Wislocki-Wasecki (senior defender), Blair (senior defender), White (junior defender), Assencoa (junior defender), Katie McMahon (senior goalie), and Liesl Neidermeyer (senior goalie).

“They were gritty, determined and resilient,’’ the coaches said. “And, they were battle-tested. When they got knocked down, they got back up.’’

Trubiano called the three captains “the heart of the team’’ and recalled what they said during the season. “They said ‘we can do this.’ That’s when everyone shifted their thoughts and aimed for a state championship.’’

Both of Natick’s coaches appreciated the fan support at Doyle Field in Leominster and they also were extremely pleased with all the fans waving when the girls and boys (also state champs) buses reached Route 27 and got a police and fire escort to the high school.

“The support was unbelievable,’’ the coaches said. “At the match, the fans covered several generations. And, when we got to the high school, there were lots of people greeting us there.’’

Both Trubiano and Daley have been the head coaches of the girls squad for only two years. Their first season (2024) ended in the Final Four, losing by a goal to Bishop Feehan, which lost in the State final to Wellesley and former NHS coach Dave Wainwright. It was Wainwright who led Natick to its championships in 2021 and 2023.

Questions were raised and there was some criticism when Trubiano and Daley’s team bowed out in the semifinals and Wainwright’s Wellesley squad took the title.

“It’s a nice feeling to win a championship on our own,’’ Trubiano said. “But, even though there were only 15 minutes left and we had a two-goal lead against Franklin, I never felt it was over. Those 15 minutes felt like forever. Kari-Ann and I are thankful and grateful for the way it all ended.’’

The girls were obviously joyful and thankful, too, after winning their championship several days before Thanksgiving. “It had come to fruition and they were enjoying the moment,’’ Trubiano noted. “I didn’t hear any talk about a repeat. They’ll deal with that next season when the time is appropriate.’’

And, there’s no doubt that the ‘D’ word will be heard when September arrives. Discussions and debates about whether the Natick girls soccer team is a dynasty will punctuate the autumn season.

However, there’s one concept about the dynasty issue that is undeniable: It’s a pleasant problem to have.

The complete winning roster includes: Katie McMahon;  Liesl Niedermeyer; Lydia Proia; Kerrington Sheriff; Lulu Wislocki-Wasecki; Mady Waterhouse; Kate Cho; Emma Levey; Ruthie Assencoa; Abby McCauley; Alice O’Connor; Nicole Proia; Emilia Sousa; Maddie Bonner; Riley White; Lily Tocio; Marivieve McEleney; Kaitlyn Blair; Katie Borelli Head coaches Kari-Ann Daley and Denise Trubiano; Student managers Nathan Penn and Jessica Rothschild.