Moreau does all in second year

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FILE PHOTO

Breanne Moreau of Belchertown, front, has accomplished so much as a sophomore. Moreau has been named the Daily Hampshire Gazette Player of the Year for girls soccer.

Belchertown girls soccer star Breanne Moreau has proven that experience is overrated.

In just her second varsity season, the sophomore midfielder earned just about every honor that can be bestowed upon a high school athlete, and also helped lead her team to its second consecutive Western Massachusetts Division 2 title.

She was one of only four girls from western Mass. to be named to the All-New England team, with two of the other three being seniors. She also joined her twin sister Brittany and junior Natalie Caney as Orioles who made the Division 2 All-State squad.

Breanne Moreau has also been named the Daily Hampshire Gazette Player of the Year for girls soccer.

"I didn't imagine I'd be this successful so early in my career, but I have an outstanding team that helped me get to where I am," Moreau said. "I think that I just grew more confident going into my sophomore year after contributing as a freshman.

"I am actually quite surprised I got these awards, and I'm extremely grateful to have received them," Moreau added. "I certainly could not have gotten these awards without the help of my teammates."

The Orioles flew through the sectional tournament, defeating Monument Mountain, Southwick and Wahconah Regional by identical 4-0 scores. They then lost to Auburn 1-0 in the state semifinals.

Belchertown's ball-possession game was spearheaded all season by Moreau, who displayed her tremendous skills whenever she got a touch on the ball.

Moreau led the team with 15 goals and 20 points in 21 games. She had a pair of hat tricks on the season, and scored twice in Belchertown's semifinal victory over Southwick.

"We didn't know who would be our goal scorer this year, but Breanne transitioned effortlessly into that role and established herself as our best goal-scoring threat," Belchertown coach Chris Mogavero said. "Every time she gets a touch on the opponents' half of the field she can create a dangerous goal-scoring opportunity for either herself or any of her teammates."

Mogavero described Moreau as relentless, with the desire and determination to excel, as well as clearly being a technically gifted player.

"She always has a ball at her feet and she is her biggest critic," he said. "Breanne is never satisfied with her performance and is always working at training to make herself better. She knows her weaknesses and is constantly trying to improve in those areas."

Moreau said, "I describe myself as an attacking player who will do anything necessary to help our team win. Without our overall team success, what I do as an individual player wouldn't mean much."

Not that her success this season came out of nowhere. As a freshman, Moreau's teammates voted her the Orioles' most valuable player. During the 2010 championship season she played mainly on defense, but would be moved into an attacking position depending on the game situation.

"Breanne stepped in her freshman year as an established player, and her best position is outside back, so that is where I felt she would help the team most that season," Mogavero said. "So to achieve the scoring numbers she has over the past two seasons is an excellent accomplishment."

The performance that helped catapult Moreau to her strong season in 2011 came in Belchertown's 3-2 semifinal victory over Wahconah in 2010, when her two goals and an assist propelled the Orioles into the finals.

"Having played in the tournament last year really helped because it was good to be in that atmosphere," she said. "If I didn't have that experience, I probably would have been more nervous and not played as well."

Mogavero said, "Her biggest improvements from her first season were in her finishing abilities around the goal and her overall maturity. She developed into a very dedicated team player and understood her role better. She also matured as a player and took more of a leadership role within the team."

Over the past two seasons, Moreau's ability to play different positions has had a significant impact on the program's success.

"We ask the team to play different formations and make adjustments within those formations based on the matchup and the strengths or weaknesses of our opponent," he said. "So having the freedom to play your strongest player in multiple positions is very comforting, and Breanne's willingness to change her role from game to game shows her dedication to the team.

"We can play Breanne at any spot on the field and her ability as a player will shine through. She has the ability to stand out at any position and place her imprint on the game."

Moreau entered the Orioles program with the benefit of having played with a handful of her current teammates. She and sister Brittany played on the top youth team in Belchertown, Cold Spring, a year early as seventh graders.

"Because of that season, we had already played with Natalie Caney, Abbey Norden and Jillian Lund, which really helped," said Breanne Moreau. "We also played on Western United for a year with Jillian Cavanaugh. So we knew how each other played and that really helped with our chemistry."

Belchertown stands to lose only four players to graduation, and will begin the 2012 season as a strong favorite to win another sectional championship.

"She is only a sophomore, so she still has so much potential with the program," Mogavero said. "She is one of the best natural soccer players that we've had here at Belchertown. And when she finishes her career I am sure she will be in the top two in goals and assists since our move to a Division 1 schedule."

With two varsity seasons remaining, Moreau is focused to maintaining the team's success before any personal goals.

"In the future, we as a team hope to remain western Mass. champions and shoot for a state title, which we've been so close to achieving," she said. "We'd also like to go undefeated for a whole season. For myself, I would like to continue to make All-State and All-New England, and my ultimate goal would be to become an All-American."

Michael Wilkinson can be reached at mwilkinson@gazettenet.com.