Sparkplug Slavin: B-P girls soccer's breakout freshman elevates teammates with talent

TAUNTON— Sometimes, all you need is that one missing piece.

For Bristol-Plymouth girls soccer, freshman forward Hannah Slavin has been the spark that's set a potent attack ablaze, helping return the Craftsmen (10-3-2, 5-3-2) to the upper echelons of the Mayflower Athletic Conference in her debut campaign.

Through 15 matches, the Freetown resident has 25 goals, including three hat tricks and a four-goal outing against Case . Not only that, but fellow forward — and last year's top scorer — Zoey Onuegbu has surpassed her total from last year, forming a formidable partnership with the freshman. Junior forward Emma Ericson has also excelled, recording a four goal performance of her own against Holbrook while junior midfielder Mari Albon and freshman midfielder Gianna Attardo have both fed and scored several impressive goals on their own.

"Her talents and her skills has inspired every single one of my players to play to the best of their ability," B-P coach Brianna Guaraldi said. "Every single player has improved their skills. ... they work together and they meet each other where they are, and that’s just how they keep winning."

That success at the varsity level comes as little surprise to Freetown-Lakeville Middle School girls soccer coach Katie Holmes, who described her as hard-working and an incredible leader both on and off the field.

"(She) really kept everyone on cohesive on the field," said Holmes, who also coaches Dighton-Rehoboth softball . "She had such a great eye for the field even as an eighth grader that, to be honest, I'm not surprised she has such an impact so immediately in high school."

As for Slavin, she'll be the first to say its her teammates and their camaraderie that has truly driven this program turn around.

"I feel like everyone’s had a great part in (our success)," Slavin said. "There’s no goals without assists, and if everybody works together, it’s better than just one person trying to get all of the goals."

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That cohesion is exactly what Guaraldi dreamed for with her trio of forwards.

"Every single one of them has their own skills," Guaraldi said. "Every single one of them has their own talents, but when they come together, it blends together into the most perfect chemistry I could ever ask for."

In turn, it also helps Slavin strive for greatness and develop into an even more more well-rounded player

"I want to try to not only score, but have more assists too and a bigger leadership (role) on my side of the field," Slavin said.

It all fits into the winning mentality that Guaraldi, herself a former Mayflower Large champion goalkeeper for the Craftsmen, has worked to instill in her first season at the helm following a year leading the junior varsity squad.

"When losing is on the plate, you’re going to take the easy way out and play an easy game," Guaraldi said. "When they have that mindset that coach will not be happy if I lose, they’re going to play to the best of their ability, and that’s why, even when we were down, even when we were tied, we played incredible."

While they were bested to the league title by Southeastern this fall, B-P qualified for the MIAA Division 2 tournament and Guaraldi knows the best is yet to come, especially with Slavin and a talented young core.

"Every single year, they're going to keep improving and I can't wait to be here to watch them keep growing," Guaraldi said.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Sparkplug Slavin: B-P girls soccer's breakout freshman elevates teammates with talent