Scarlet Hawks control their destiny in push for tourney bid

By Chris Villani

Kyla Nashawaty has been Milford's top scorer this season. Photo credit: Assistant Principal Jessica Zaleski

Milford High girls’ soccer head coach Lou Colabello said this year’s team is one of the most Jekyll and Hyde he has had in his tenure. The Scarlet Hawks stunned Canton, a perennial playoff team, on the road. But the same squad suffered lopsided losses against King Philip and Mansfield and let a halftime lead against Sharon slip away.

Still, MHS is well within striking distance of the tournament at the midway point of the season.

“We only lost one player from last year, so I have pretty much everybody back with a good deal of experience,” he said. “The last couple of years, we have suffered mightily against the big clubs, but my expectations are that we will be better.”

Some of Milford’s top players this fall are relatively young. Sophomore Kyla Nashawaty is back at striker after a freshman season that saw her earn both Hockomock League and Eastern Mass. all-star nods.

“She is a super player,” Colabello said. “Even though we don’t score a ton of goals, she has most of them. She plays all 80 minutes and she is an energizer bunny, I wish I could instill her energy into everyone.”

The Scarlet Hawks have been buoyed by another young player in freshman Giuliana Senna.

“I predict that she will be one of the best defenders in the league by the time she graduates,” Colabello said. “She kicks the ball 50 yards and she turned 15 two days ago. She has for sure helped the back line.”

Sensing that MHS could use more help on defense, Colabello moved the versatile Katelyn Kearnan to the back line. “She is a wonderful player and she will play anywhere for me,” he said. “She started at center mid, but she is a good enough player to make a difference anywhere.”

Colabello is also hoping to get more production from three-sport athlete Ava Baglione, who was slowed by a wrist injury early in the year.

Colabello said the schedule will get a bit easier through stretches of the season half of the year, and that should help Milford’s playoff chances. With the power ranking system in place, earning wins against weaker teams and being competitive against top teams are rewarded.

“If we can win the games we are supposed to win, I think that would sneak us in,” he said. “That’s the way we are approaching it: give it your best shot against the real good teams, and win the ones you are supposed to.”