Mustangs Saddle Up for Fall Sports
After a long, quiet summer, campus is again abuzz with activity as Mustang preseason is underway. Varsity athletes checked back in on Wednesday, registering in the morning before hitting the fields for multiple daily practices.
Choruses of encouraging shouts from coaches and players rang out from every corner of campus, as the soccer, football, and field hockey teams hit the fields, the cross-country squads jogged down school road and around Pulling Circle, and the volleyball team took over Wray Gymnasium.
Here are short previews for each fall varsity team:
Boys Varsity Soccer: New head coach Scott Ruggles takes over a team that played to a 9-7-2 record last fall and fielded the Gatorade New York Boys Soccer Player of the Year in Francis Bonsu ’25. This year’s squad worked hard on building team chemistry and spatial awareness on the field during the preseason and won their scrimmage against MacDuffie 1-0. Their first game is on Sept. 10 versus Tilton School, at Deerfield Academy.
Girls Varsity Soccer: Practices got off to a great start, as Head Coach Gordie MacKenzie led his team in up-back-through passing drills. The girls, who play their first game on Sept. 13 against Marianapolis, will have an excellent shot to improve on a 4-11-1 record from the 2024–25 season.
From the Coach: Coach MacKenzie said it was good to get back on the field so players could shake off their summer rust. He also noted that only four players from last year graduated, so he has a veteran roster of mostly Vth and VIth formers with which to work.
Volleyball: The assistant coach a year ago, Barijana Caldas is stepping into the head coaching role this year. She’s leading a young team that graduated seven seniors last year. Their first game is at home against Canterbury on Sept. 13.
Boys Cross-Country: A very young team, the boys cross-country squad was seen jogging all over campus last week as they prepare for the Canterbury Invitational on Sept. 20.
Girls Cross-Country: Andrea Sassatelli ’28 returns for her IVth form year, looking to break more Mustang running records. She’s accompanied by a good mix of veterans (four VIth formers) and young talent. The girls went 13-2 last season, and they’ll look to get off to a winning start in their first official race on Sept. 27.
Football: Ralph Fedele is the new head coach of Millbrook’s eight-man football team, while Marc Boissey joins as a new assistant. With just two VIth formers leading the way, the Mustangs will look to develop, starting with a home game against Albany Academy on Sept. 20.
From the Coach: Boissey noted that the football team is already a cohesive unit with organic energy. He praised roster carryovers from last season for immediately emerging as leaders on the team.
Field Hockey: The varsity field hockey team is loaded with Vth and VIth formers, ready to put their sub-.500 record from last season completely behind them. Head Coach Eliza Pecchia was heard emphasizing fundamentals and communication during preseason practices—concepts the girls will carry with them into their first contest at Marianapolis on Sept. 13.
Gallop along with each fall team by bookmarking their schedules and our YouTube channel, where we stream as many varsity games as we can:
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