EASTHAM — Nauset girls soccer standouts Olivia Avellar and Caroline Kennard signed national letters of intent to play on college teams in a special ceremony at the high school last Wednesday in front of teammates, friends, and family.
Avellar, who finished her Warriors career with 93 goals and scored a school single-season record 43 this season, will stay close to home and play her college soccer at Boston University, while Kennard heads over 800 miles away to Ball State University in Indiana.
“I’m excited to be close to home,” said Avellar. “Boston is a great city, and I think what drove me to pick Boston University was being in the city and having all these opportunities.” She was sporting a scarlet hat and hoodie emblazoned with the Boston University Terriers logo to go with her matching scarlet-accented Nike shoes.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself at Nauset — how to stay goal-driven, what motivates me, and what keeps me going — and I think that’s something I need to carry with me throughout college,” she said. “It’s going to be some of the best years of my life, and I’ll definitely take all these lessons and use that to my advantage.”
Avellar has had a stellar career at Nauset, which included being named Cape & Islands League MVP and a Boston Globe All-Scholastic selection. She played varsity in each of her four years with the Warriors. The Orleans resident plays club soccer with the Scorpions in Taunton.
Kennard, who lives in Chatham, was a midfield maestro for the Warriors, racking up 21 assists this season to go with eight goals. The 17-year-old, who plays club soccer with South Shore Selects, had a spectacular sophomore year, garnering Cape & Islands League MVP and Boston Herald All-Scholastic honors. She was named a Cape & Islands League All-Star in all four years.
“I am so excited to move on to play at the next level,” said Kennard. “It shows everything I’ve worked for my whole life has basically come to this point.” A highlight of this season was her three goals and three assists in a Sept. 26 win over Nantucket. “Nauset has taught me everything,” she said. “All my coaches and teachers have shown me how to become a better person, and I’m excited to bring that with me to college.”
The duo helped win three Cape & Islands Atlantic Division League championships, losing just 11 games in their four-year varsity careers. As juniors, they were part of a team that won 17 matches.
“It’s impressive to look at the full body of work that Olivia and Caroline have put together, because they’ve set the bar so high for the program,” said Nauset girls soccer head coach Evan Botting. “The work this senior class has put in to establish that standard of play speaks for itself. It’s been a luxury to have them, as the rest of the girls have seen firsthand what it takes — the work they need to put in and what the quality needs to be — and it’s hopefully going to benefit the program for years to come.”
Football Loss at Apponequet
Nauset football lost 46-24 at Apponequet Regional High School in a non-playoff game on Friday afternoon. The loss snapped a two-game win streak for the Warriors (2-7), who will close the season with the annual Thanksgiving Day game against Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School.
