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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The 2017-2018 season concluded with the ultimate prize for the Wellesley High School varsity girls hockey team: raising the Division II state championship trophy at TD Garden.
As great as the accomplishment was of winning a state title, the focus for Wellesley girls hockey now shifts to defending their crown atop Division II with the 2018-2019 season ready to get underway.
Back to lead the Lady-Raiders this season are a pair of senior co-captains in forwards Grace Dore and Isabelle Kressy.
Kressy says that in order to maintain a similar level of success as last season, Wellesley will need to utilize their depth at forward and maintain a balance throughout three lines.
“We definitely want to maintain three strong lines for the whole season,” said Kressy. “Our success in the past has come from our ability to wear teams down with fresh legs on the ice.”
Along with Kressy and Dore, another name to watch out for on offense this season for Wellesley is forward Lulu Rourke.
“She’s a freshman, but so far in practice, she’s worked really hard,” said Kressy. “She scores a lot of goals and is a very strong player.”
Defensively, junior Erin Fleming is a player expected to have a major impact for the Lady-Raiders in their title defense.
“Erin [Fleming] has great positioning and always puts the effort in,” said Kressy of her teammate. “Almost no one can get the puck past her.”
The Raiders will open up conference action on December 15 at Weymouth.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.
