“I don’t know how everything worked out, but it did,” said Keyes.
From the midfield, to goalkeeper, and now back to the midfielder, the journey has been anything but ordinary for the senior captain.
“I know her desire,” said Wellesley coach Dave Wainwright. “She adapted to a massive need last year and for her to take on that massive responsibility and to perform at that level that she did consistently, it shows how important this experience is to her. She was invested from a team-first level.”
Keyes took on the role of ‘sweeper keeper’, able to provide an outlet to defenders under pressure and calmly navigate passing lanes. She had no problem navigating the field, given her speciality is handling the ball in tight spaces. With help from the coaching staff and her fellow goaltenders, she improved.
In the final, she punched away a clever Bishop Feehan corner kick to help seal a championship.
“Having Caroline in goal was more comforting because we had been playing with her on the field, so we knew that we had an option back with her feet,” said senior captain Emily Burnham.
Last season, Keyes teamed up with her older sister, Peyton. She felt free to play once winning over the confidence of the team, something Peyton helped with.
“Any mistake that she made, she’d work her butt off to get back, which I appreciated,” said Keyes. “She knew that it was me in the back, she knew that she had to do it for me. It was also nice with her being a captain, she was able to get everyone to rally around me and keep an eye out for me.”
New season, new role.
Now a captain herself, Keyes is wearing multiple hats as a midfielder and an attacker.
“She’s answered all of the expectations and then some at this point,” said Wainwright.
“She’s an old-school kid,” he continued. “She could go in the backyard and play anything. She has that backyard mentality of adapt and overcome, which is rare.”
Keyes and Burnham, a returning Globe All-Scholastic committed to play at Penn, have matching scoring totals (4 goals, 1 assist) for the second-ranked Raiders (4-0-1).
“If you want to cover one, you’re going to leave the other one open,” said Wainwright.
Keyes has a soft first touch and reads the field well. Burnham can burn opponents in multiple ways, like in a 2-0 win over Brookline on Sept. 11, when she cut inside from a throw-in and uncorked a screamer into the back of the net from outside of the box.
With senior captain Cam Walsh healthy, and back in goal, Keyes has the freedom to unlock a stellar midfield. Alongside Burnham, fellow senior captain Ellery Gerhart serves as the unsung hero, doing the dirty work that aids the group’s success. Kinsley Stevens, a junior defensive midfielder, stabilizes it all with her ball-winning capabilities and link-up play.
The chemistry between the midfield group helps the entire team. Given how long they’ve laced up cleats together, it transcends the soccer field.
“It’s one of the reasons why I love coaching public school — these kids, not only do they play together, they grew up together,” said Wainwright. “I think that bond and that ability to grow as people, not just as players, helps the bond that much more and they cherish it.”
Her stint as a goaltender taught Keyes about herself — and she’s even taken a few pointers to the midfield.
“I’ve learned that dropping back and helping the goalie helps,” said Keyes. “You realize that everyone kind of runs away. Being able to be an option in the midfield is very helpful, which I’ve learned and implemented this year.”
▪ Following a surprise run to last season’s Division 3 semifinals, Cardinal Spellman is back for more.
The Cardinals (7-0-1 with a 28-4 scoring differential) are led by senior captains Caroline Bligh and Mackenzie Potter. Bligh, the team’s leading scorer last season and this fall, netted five goals last week. Potter, a centerback, orchestrates the backline alongside junior Abbie Clark.
The eight other starters are all freshmen or sophomores playing with maturity. Many of the sophomores gained experience from last season’s playoff run, and the freshmen have stepped in seamlessly, notably forwards Emerson McCann and Brynn Nickley.
“These kids have come in and just done a fabulous job,” said coach Mike Perry.
▪ Canton (5-1-1, 5-0-0 Hockomock) has already matched last season’s win total.
The Bulldogs have operated offensively through senior forward Alyssa Wong and senior midfielder Georgia Campbell. Wong has returned hungry after missing all of last season. Campbell is the creative spark that makes the team tick.
On defense, Canton sports an experienced backline led by vocal senior captain Bella Sanchez. The Bulldogs have only allowed eight goals in seven games and have not allowed more than two in a single contest.
“First credit goes to the defense,” said coach Idris Senyonjo.
Canton has its toughest Hockomock matchups ahead, including Oliver Ames on Thursday. Senyonjo believes that this team, more than in years past, has “more of a unity to regroup, versus to crumble,” which will be key as the Bulldogs aim to win the Hockomock Davenport.
“We’ve always been there in the conversation, and then kind of slipped away,” said Senyonjo. “We want to be the conversation this time around.”
Thursday, No. 11 Duxbury at Hanover, 6 p.m. — In a heavily contested Patriot League, this pivotal cross-division matchup will have major implications as both sides seek to win their respective division titles.
Friday, No. 2 Wellesley at No. 1 Bishop Feehan, 3:30 p.m. — A rematch of last season’s Division 1 final, with top-ranked Feehan hosting the defending champion.
Saturday, No. 15 Lincoln-Sudbury at No. 9 Concord-Carlisle, 4:45 p.m. — A headliner of the 19th Lois Wells Memorial Kicks for Cancer event, hosted by Concord-Carlisle, Ciara Morrisey and L-S will visit Emmy O’Donnell and the Patriots in a Dual County League Thorpe division bout. L-S earned a 2-1 home victory in the season’s first matchup on Sept. 9.
Saturday, No. 16 Acton-Boxborough vs. Bedford (at Concord-Carlisle), 4:45 p.m. — Also on Saturday’s Kicks for Cancer slate, first-year Bedford coach Ru Sweeney will face his former team for the first time.
Tuesday, No. 3 Medfield at No. 7 Hopkinton, 4:30 p.m. — The Hillers have won every game this season, scoring 22 goals and allowing none. They will face their most difficult test so far, hosting Medfield in a Tri-Valley cross-division clash.
Correspondent Henry Dinh-Price contributed to this story.