Tabor Academy’s girls varsity ice hockey team finished their 2010-2011 season with an overall record of 15-7-1 and qualified for the sixth time in eight years in the New England Division I Tournament.

Now, with nine seniors graduated and younger players taking their places, Coach Eric Long says the team will have the same success but will have to do it a bit differently.

“Last year we had 9 seniors who were more experienced and were very skilled players,” Long said. “Individually we had some great talent. This year we’re going to have to do it a little different.  Team chemistry systems and a cohesive team is going to carry us along a lot more than individual efforts.”

With 12 returning players from last season, Long said most of the team is comprised of freshmen and sophomores who do not have much experience with the game but are picking up skills quickly.

To build a more cohesive team, Long said he and fellow coach John Reydel will be relying on his three captains: seniors Meghan Dineen, of Marion, Jenn Godin of Buffalo, NY, and Angelica Cretes of Middleboro. Another key player, he said, is sophomore Halle Silva, of Acushnet, who is a leading scorer for the team.

“My expectation of the girls is really the same as last year,” Long said. “It’s for them to qualify for the New England tournament, take a similar 15 wins as last year and minimize losses.”

In order to minimize losses, Long said he will be working with the girls on systems this year, as well as defensive zone coverage and power play penalty kills.

So far, this has been successful he said. The 2011-2012 season is already underway with the girls varsity team holding strong mid-season with a record of 6-1-2.

Long, who is in his fifth season as one of the girls varsity coaches said, “what the team may lack in experience, they make up for in character.

“We have a great group of kids,” Long said. “They’re hardworking so it’s a real joy for me to go to the rink everyday because they are so serious about it, yet they have fun with it.”