By ALEX SPONSELLER The Cranston West girls soccer team will be fielding one of the most experienced rosters in the state this fall and is looking to contend in the Division I championship hunt.

The Falcons boast a whopping 17 upperclassmen on the roster, many of which have played together for years in the city. The team had a down season last fall, but will be eying a turnaround with such an experienced group.

“We’re looking good, the girls have a quiet confidence, they’re not cocky heading into the season. With so many returning players and them knowing each other, I think we will be very competitive,” said West coach Jeremy Sherer.

West is typically a defensive team. However, Sherer believes that things may be different, as the Falcons have multiple girls capable of putting up big points.

“We’ve always been a team that has been pretty stingy with letting up goals, but we’ve never scored a lot of goals ourselves. Maddie Alves has really come into her own, Julia Robbins is another player to watch, and McKenna Renaud, they should all be very capable goal scorers this year,” Sherer said.

Although West has many upperclassmen ready to lead the way, it will be turning to freshman Oceanna Orlandi in net as the team’s keeper.

Orlandi has had a smooth transition in the preseason and Sherer has been pleased with the dynamic between her and the veterans.

“It’s very important for her as a freshman (to build trust with her teammates). She’s really the only varsity goalie that we have, so assuming she remains healthy, she will play every minute. There will be a certain amount of pressure on her, and our captains and team have done a good job of taking her under their wing, making her feel comfortable. She’s starting to use her voice more,” said Sherer.

For the Falcons to hit their ceiling this fall, Sherer believes that it is all going to come down to confidence and composure in high-pressure situations.

“They don’t feel pressure, but they are excited because they know that we are in great shape physically. We’ve had a successful preseason and they have hit their stride. We have a deep bench, it’s a very strong roster,” said Sherer. “It’s all mental. I’m not concerned about them physically or athletically, it’s all mental. Will these girls be composed enough to create opportunities under pressure? Pilgrim is going to be strong, Cumberland is going to be strong, they are going to pressure you. Are we comfortable and confident enough in our possessions to withstand that pressure?”