Guardian soccer adds to its Craft.

PositionSPORTS

Byline: Jim Wilson

WORCESTER - In the final game of St. Peter-Marian's 2006 season, Bryant Craft scored a pair of second-half goals to upset Marlboro High, 2-1.

It should have ended the season on a high note and served notice that the young Guardians were ready to make the jump to the next level in 2007 - especially after the Panthers went on to reach the Central Mass. Division 1 final.

However, Craft was more concerned about the previous game - a winnable game against Central Mass. Conference rival Holy Name that St. Peter-Marian tied, 3-3. After the win over Marlboro, the Guardians finished 8-9-1 and fell a point shy of making the postseason under first-year coach Joe Simone.

"I think just one game could have changed it a lot for us, to fall just one point away was tough," Craft said. "I think if we just played better defense or put more balls in the back of the net against Holy Name, we definitely would have been in districts."

It's that hunger that drove Craft and his teammates to make sure there is no doubt St. Peter-Marian reaches the postseason this year.

"We're trying to turn the program around," Simone said. "It's always been a decent program, but we want to make it good every year."

The Guardians boast one of the best players in Central Mass. in Craft, who scored 14 goals and added two assists for St. Peter-Marian last year and earned a spot on the T&G Super Team as a junior. Thanks to a few transfers, SPM is able to surround him with a supporting cast that could boost the Guardians from "just happy to make the postseason" to "championship contenders."

St. Peter-Marian added Guillano Conte into the fold, a player whom Craft said has been playing since he was four years old and just returned from Italy, where he was playing. The Guardians also got Dan Simonski from Holy Name, whom Simone said should help an already solid squad. Senior sweeper Kevin Walsh, Ryan Hoggins, Eddie Brennan and goalkeeper Dan Cormier are all back.

"The nucleus is there," said Simone, who is assisted by Fredi Stefo, who played and coached professionally in Albania. "With a few new kids we brought in from the JV team, I think we're going to do it this year."

Simone said having a balanced team takes the load off Craft, who draws attention wherever he is on the field. Craft is also getting the attention of colleges like Northeastern, Providence, Boston College and Franklin Pierce.

"It's important to me because I'd love to play Division 1, that's where all the...

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