First-year coach Marisa Remley leads a Hopkinton High School girls lacrosse team that features a mix of experienced upperclassmen and talented freshmen, and Remley said she is impressed with her new squad.

“We are looking good,” she said. “We had a ton of freshmen come out, but we also have some really good leaders out there.”

The Hillers bring back most of their defense from a team that qualified for the tournament a season ago. Katie Balster and Sophia DellaCioppa are two of the team’s captains and will help anchor that side of the field. Hopkinton’s third captain, junior Rachel Bouvier, is back in the midfield and drew rave reviews from Remley.

“She is phenomenal at the draw, and her knowledge of the game in general is excellent,” the coach said. “She is kind of like our quarterback out there on the field. She is able to direct some of our younger girls and she is a real leader, you can tell they are looking up to her.”

Bouvier is joined in the midfield by sophomore Abby Burke, who Remley described as “an incredibly well-rounded player.”

“She is always positive, she locks down on defense and she can take the draw, and her stick skills are excellent,” Remley said.

Hopkinton also features a number of freshmen in key roles this spring. Avery Quebec and Lucie Mato are two first-year players who will see time on the attack, and Remley said they are both “hungry” to learn.

Freshman Dylan Norred joins junior Lila Mato in a goalie rotation. Norred has played the position throughout her youth career, while Mato took on the role of junior varsity goalie last season and is stepping up to the varsity gig this year.

Remley said the freshmen have handled the transition to the varsity game in stride.

“They just love the game and they are excited to be out here and make the most of the opportunities they get,” she said. “As we have continued to play, the chemistry is getting there. It’s not just a big group of returning seniors, they have had to figure each other out. And, once it’s there, they are going to be unstoppable.”

Remley is hoping to see her team contend in the Tri-Valley League, but she said she mostly wants to build a culture of positivity, respect and support for one another during her first season. A graduate of Western Connecticut, where she played lacrosse, Remley started her coaching career at her alma mater as a volunteer assistant. She spent some time coaching high school lacrosse in Connecticut before moving to Massachusetts last year and starting work at Hopkinton High School in January.

“I love the game, and it’s given me a lot, so I just love any chance I have to spread that love to the next generation,” Remley said. “I’m just super appreciative of the opportunity to coach at Hopkinton. They’re an incredible group of girls, both on and off the field. I’m lucky to be their coach.”