Last year, Greene split time as a starter for the Wildcats, appearing in 12 games. Her 2.27 goals-against average ranked third in the conference, and she was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Academic Team.
“Michelle’s teammates look up to her,’’ added Johnson, in her first season as head coach after serving as an assistant at Bentley University the past three years. “They feed off of her positive energy on and off the field.’’
Greene is one of three former Mansfield High players on the Wheelock roster. The others are midfielder Chelsey Ballard, a junior captain who encouraged Greene to continue her field hockey career in college, and sophomore defender Sarah Marcotte, a transfer from St. Michael’s College.
“We had some very good teams and a great coach [ Theresa DeGirolamo] in high school, and we came close to winning our sectional championship my senior year,’’ recalled Greene, who also played softball and was on the track team. “My freshman year at Mansfield I didn’t play goalkeeper. Coach saw me trying it one day in practice and told me to stick with it, and I became a starter my senior year.’’
DeGirolamo said Greene was an integral part of her 2009 team that advanced to the South sectional semifinals.
“Michelle had a great postseason, getting hot just at the right time, and that’s a credit to her willingness to improve and her toughness,’’ said DeGirolamo, now in her 10th season as coach of the Hornets. “Wheelock was a great fit for her because she’s a multifaceted individual.’’
Ballard and Greene were also teammates in an adult summer league in Bridgewater, and the more Ballard talked about the Wheelock program, the more Greene thought she’d miss playing after high school.
