Hoang, Cannon at Forefront of Potent Conard Attack

Editor's Note: This is part of a series of previews of fall teams at West Hartford's high schools.

girls soccer coach Nick Moffo is excited about the 2011 season, but those who know him would say, “What else is new?”

Moffo retired from teaching several years ago but relishes the opportunity to “stay young” through coaching soccer in this, his 20th season on the Chieftains’ bench.

This year, All-Stater Kylie Hoang and three-year All-CCC West performer Lily Cannon lead a group of six returning starters with numerous qualified candidates to fill the holes.

“I’ve got a great group of young ladies,” he said. “We’ve set our goals high. If we continue to work like we have in preseason, we’ll win our share of games.”

Players like Hoang, who has already committed to Division I Temple, don’t come around often enough.

“She has a great touch on the ball and the ability to read what’s going to happen,” Moffo said. “She reads and reacts and makes people around her better. She’ll take the majority of our free kicks this year. She’s really solid technically.”

Cannon, tall and strong, is the perfect foil for Hoang. When Conard needs a potent presence in the box on set plays, she adeptly fills the role.

“She's played as a sweeper and then moved up to midfield,” Moffo said. “She’s just now coming into her own. She’s smart and athletic, has good size, plays hard and reads real well.”

Defenders Kate Looney and Megan Ryan are captains along with Hoang and Cannon. Ryan has been starting varsity for three years and Looney for two. Forward Taylor Schumann also has two years’ experience in a starting role.

“They will play at the next level,” Moffo said. “They are talented but they’ve played under the radar. They do the everyday things that need to be done for a team to be successful.”

Caroline Murray received All-CCC West recognition as a freshman defender.

Given the stiff competition in the CCC West with defending league champion Northwest Catholic, crosstown rival Hall, Simsbury, Southington, and Farmington, the Chieftains will be tournament-tested come the postseason. Could this be their year?

“We want to win the CCC West, improve on last year’s record (8-7-1), get by that first round of the state tournament and continue on,” Moffo said. “But as good as we might be, we have so many good teams to play. We don’t get any breathers.”

CONARD

Coach: Nick Moffo (20th year, 152-130-43)

Last Year: 8-7-2 (6-6-2 CCC West, tied 4th); lost to Manchester in ‘LL’ 1st round

Key Losses: Avery Brink, Lindsey Pileika, Kelsey Schumann, Jessica Retrum, Jaclyn Carter, Alexia Basile, Deena Abels

Players: Kylie Hoang (sr. capt., CMF/F), Lily Cannon (sr. capt., MF), Kate Looney (sr. capt., D), Megan Ryan (sr. capt., D), Taylor Schumann (sr., F), Caroline Murray (so. D), Iwona Pawlukiewicz (sr. D), Katriona Casagrande (sr. MF), Rebecca van Stolk-Cooke (sr. D), Megan Cummings (sr. F), Lauren Brezinski (sr. D), Kerri Sullivan (sr. F), Melanie Haeflich (jr. D), Becky Hoisl (jr. F), Julia Galanto (jr. MF), Kate Gustafson (jr. MF), Emily Kuzoian (jr. D), Jen Lohneiss (sr. F), Jamie Lohneiss (so. GK), Caitlin Piker (jr. F), Elena Santos (fr. F), Molly Swanson (so. D), Sarah Whitney (so. GK)

Of Note: The Chieftains earned a National Soccer Coaches Association of America team academic award for the 8th straight year. The team GPA has to be 3.25 and theirs was 3.6 … Hoang, bound for Temple University next fall, was an All-Stater last year and has been All-CCC West for 2 years … Graduated 5 starters …