Eight locals boost Babson soccer

Eight players from area communities are taking the field for the Babson College women's soccer team this fall, including tricaptain Shir Castel, a graduate of the Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill.

Castel, who grew up in Framingham and now resides in Boston, was converted from defender to forward by head coach Sarah Dacey, and the move has paid off.

"Shir is one of the fittest players on our team and has a great on-field presence," Dacey said of Castel, the squad's top returning scorer. "She's evolved into a great leader."

Castel is joined in the starting lineup by senior back Laura Bucci of Norfolk, who attended Bishop Feehan High; junior goalkeeper Sam Scarpato of Weston and Dedham's Noble & Greenough School; junior back Samantha Bartman of Upton, a graduate of Nipmuc Regional High; sophomore forward Patty Pytlik, from Wellesley High; and freshman midfielder Annie Kenney, who graduated from Weston High. Castel and Bucci are four-year starters, Bartman is a three-year starter and Scarpato a two-year starter.

Among the team's key reserves are the McCurdy sisters, Ellen and Bridget, also graduates of Weston High. Ellen is a sophomore midfielder and Bridget a freshman forward.

"Laura is one of our unsung heroes and has played almost every minute of every game. She has done a great job of shutting down opposing forwards. Sam is a vocal goalkeeper who has grown into a tremendous leader," said Dacey, a Framingham native.

"Samantha was second team all-conference last year and takes all our set pieces," the plays set up by corner and free kicks, Dacey said, "and has done a tremendous job of leading our back four. Patty has made a big turnaround after coming in this year extremely fit, and she has good speed, game sense and one of the best shots on the team."

Dacey described Kenney as a "ball-winner who has done a great job in her role as holding midfielder," and said that Ellen McCurdy has an "uncanny ability" to have things go her way on the field.

"She's an incredible teammate and one of our first players off the bench. And Bridget is a feisty and determined forward who has gotten some quality minutes and gets the job done," said Dacey.

Babson improved to 3-2-2 with a 4-0 win over Framingham State on Tuesday.

Mitchell College junior goalkeeper Andrew Hall of Natick was honored as the New England Collegiate Conference men's soccer Rookie of the Week after posting his first career victory, 2-1, over Regis College.

A transfer from the University of Vermont, where he did not play varsity soccer, Hall backstopped Natick High to the 2005 South sectional semifinals as a senior. He also played lacrosse and was on the high school ski team.

"Andy was a very talented and athletic player," recalled Natick High boys soccer coach Lou Papadellis. "He made an unbelievable diving save against Dartmouth High late in the sectional quarterfinals to get us to the next round."

Milford resident Anthony Rossacci bested a field of 30 other contestants late last month to win an international free-throw shooting competition in Miami Gardens, Fla.

His victory came during the Colorado-based Hoop It Up organization's 3-on-3 basketball world championships, which includes 3-point, free-throw, and slam-dunk contests.

"I feel like a little kid at the candy store. My dream came true of swishing two free throws to win a championship," said Rossacci, a 1991 graduate of Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High in Upton. He dedicated the victory to his father, John Rossacci, who died in 2002 after battling ALS.

Rossacci has entered numerous local, national, and international free-throw and 3-point shooting competitions since 1999, and has won nine championships, including at a 2001 national free-throw contest sponsored by Roundball Ruckus.

Brian Flumere (inset) of Milford, a starting outside linebacker on the Sacred Heart University football team as a sophomore, helped his squad to a 2-0 start going into yesterday's game at Iona. Flumere was a standout tailback and safety at Milford High, where he played on two Super Bowl teams, including the 2006 championship squad.

Flumere is one of four linebackers from the area on the team, joined by redshirt sophomore Greg Jones of Westborough, who also attended Bridgton Academy in Maine; freshman Michael Zambarano of Natick; and freshman Richard Barche of Bellingham.

"Brian has played very well, with four sacks in our first two games, and we're looking for great things from him the rest of the year," said Sacred Heart head coach Paul Gorham. "And Greg can play three of the four linebacker positions in our 3-4 defensive scheme, and gives us great flexibility in our packages."

Zambarano and Barche have seen playing time as backups and as special teams starters. "They've been great additions to our team," Gorham said.

Versatility is the name of the game for University of Southern Maine senior Regina Wilson (inset) of Shrewsbury, who plays the back line for the women's soccer team and forward and defense for the hockey squad.

Wilson was a midfielder her first two college soccer seasons before switching to right back last year.

"Reggie is possibly the most competitive player I have coached," said women's soccer coach Lisa Petruccelli. "Tenacity is her greatest asset and she has the ability to contain any opponent."

Wilson, a captain on the hockey team this winter, is one of the team's best skaters and an excellent defensive forward and penalty killer. "Reggie will be a huge component of our team," said women's hockey coach John Lauziere. "She's had two very strong seasons."

Wilson graduated from Proctor Academy in Andover, N.H., where she was captain of the soccer and ice hockey teams and also played softball.

Two-time Globe All-Scholastic Alex Quinn, a senior at Northwestern University, was recently named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for field hockey. The former Watertown High All-American was also honored as Northwestern's Female Athlete of the Week after scoring a career-high three goals against Central Michigan. She was second-team all-conference last year.

Central Mass. Club Lacrosse will hold tryouts the next two weekends for high school freshman, sophomore and junior girls who live within 50 miles of Worcester. They will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. and on Oct. 5 at 9 a.m. at the College of the Holy Cross, with participants required to attend both sessions. The team, based out of ForeKicks II in Marlborough, competes in local, regional and national tournaments. For more information, visit cmasslacrosse.com.

Marvin Pave can be reached at 508-820-4223 or marvin.pave@ rcn.com.