When it comes to results, it's like looking in a mirror for Nashoba boys' and girls' soccer

BOLTON — The Nashoba Regional boys’ and girls’ soccer teams don’t exactly look alike.

The cleats, formations and hairstyles may vary. But a closer glance at the results this year shows a stark similarity between both programs.

Winning.

With two games left in the regular season, both teams have 13 victories. Both teams are also undefeated at home, and neither squad has allowed more than 17 total goals. And if that wasn’t enough similarities on the field — both squads are currently ranked No. 1 in their respective Central Mass. Soccer Coaches Poll.

So while they may not share the same exact look on the pitch, the Nashoba boys’ and girls’ soccer teams are reveling in shared success this fall.

“It’s great seeing that they’re winning as (much) as us,” Nashoba girls senior captain Kylie Marshall said. “We see each other in school (and) ask each other about the game the night before, and it’s just great to hear that they’re doing so well and that we’re doing so well, and just the support that we have (on our team) and then their team backing us — it’s great.”

“It’s amazing to see us both thriving in what we love to do,” Nashoba boys senior captain Tyler Mignault said.

Hungry to make history

Last fall, both the Nashoba boys’ and girls’ soccer programs won exactly eight times before losing their opening MIAA playoff games.

The parallels didn’t stop there as both teams won their first 10 games this school year before the boys lost to Bromfield in their 11th contest and the girls tied Marlborough in their 13th.

For the boys (13-1-0), having 11 experienced seniors — with many playing on varsity since sophomore year — has spurred an historic start for the Wolves.

“The connection and bond we have together; we’re boys, we are a family (and) that’s what’s really helping us against other teams,” senior captain Mason Holmes said.

“We’re hungry. We want it,” senior captain Zach Brown said. “We want to make history.”

For the girls (13-0-1), having two of the top-three scoring leaders for Central Mass. in sophomore Kat Davis (26 goals, 16 assists) and junior Grayson Edwards (19 goals, 13 assists) certainly has helped the Wolves outscore their opponents at a 77-17 clip.

But a shift in mindset has proved to be paramount in their unbeaten start.

“We’re really having a lot of success playing not afraid this year,” senior captain Gina Braddock said. “That’s something we’ve really taken to heart this year because it’s super important to play your own game and not play to other people.”

“We’re not afraid of the other team anymore,” Marshall said. “That’s a huge difference from teams in the past.”

And so far this fall, many teams across Central Mass. have learned that the Wolves are no longer running scared.

Instead, they’re leading the pack.

“This is a first for us,” seventh-year Nashoba boys coach Matt Davison said. “It took a little while to establish culture at the school. It’s a big football school, we’ve had a couple of years where we’re really not far off. It’s really satisfying.”

“We want to prove to people that we can play with anyone,” first-year Nashoba girls coach Brian Davis said. “I think that’s the motivation that we want to show is that we’re not afraid of anyone.”

All in the family

While there aren’t any joint team trips to Roller Kingdom or dual-program pasta parties scheduled on the docket, the Nashoba boys’ and girls’ soccer teams are enjoying each other’s success.

After hosting Hudson High for a boys and girls varsity doubleheader on Sept. 27, the two teams are hoping that their hot starts to the 2023 campaign will lead to a few home playoff games — and another possible doubleheader.

“We’re all like one big family,” Brown said. “We all want each other to do well, and it’s not ‘Who’s going to do better?’ So at the end of the day, we support each other and make sure that everyone is doing good.”

Said Braddock: “It’s just nice to have that winning in common.”

“We’re supportive of the boys team winning, and they’re supportive of us,” Marshall said. “We want that to keep going for both teams.”

— Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44. 

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Nashoba boys' and girls' soccer sharing similar success on the pitch