After 32 years of leading the varsity girls soccer team, Dartmouth High School coach Scot Boudrin states that his goal for the team remains the same every year: “get better every practice [and] get better everyday.”

After 13 seniors graduated in 2024, Boudrin looks forward to building up the young team’s skills and leadership. 

The team was ranked as the No. 33 seed heading into the MIAA state tournament last season, and lost in the sweet 16 round against Medford HIgh School.

“It was a game where we worked really hard,” he said, adding that “they were great kids, and now we’re on to the next group.”

Overall, Boudrin wants the athletes to improve upon “the game of soccer.”

“There’s so many facets of the game — to say that we’re working on any one would be disingenuous,” he said.

For this year’s team captains, senior Emma Garcia of Dartmouth and senior Ava Fernandes of Acushnet, Boudrin wants them to display strong leadership to lead the new team.

“I’m really excited for this year. It’s a good group of girls, and we’re just here to have fun,” said Fernandes.

“Everyone’s giving 100% no matter what that looks like,” said Garcia.

Garcia emphasizes that she wants the team environment to feel like “a family.”

“I’ve always wanted the girls to look at me like a big sister,” she said. “If they see me in the school hallway, say hi. If they need someone to sit with at lunch, send me a text. If they need help with anything, we’re there.”

“As captains, we want to have a good environment where we’re able to talk to each other and for no one to be nervous to say anything or speak out — just to have a positive attitude,” said Fernandes.

To warm up in their preseason, Dartmouth faced off against Old Rochester Regional High School’s varsity girls team in a scrimmage match on Thursday, August 28 that ended in a 2-2 tie.

“The big goal for us is just to come together as a team and try to win as many games as we can,” said Fernandes.

For their next match, Dartmouth will play against Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School on Thursday, September 4 at 4 p.m. in a home game.