---

Every so often, individuals settle on the soccer pitch that are so persuasive in their play and presence that the "one of the best ever" labels aptly applies - for example a Jen Leaverton or Jenna Roncarati at Bishop Feehan, a Tiffany Pacheco or Kelsey Mahoney at Dighton-Rehoboth High of recent futbol vintage.

Mansfield High has one of those, No. 16, Ali Nagle, a three-year starter on the defensive back line at sweeper.

She is not big. She is not fast, but Nagle is something special.

"She raises the bar for herself, for everybody around her," said Mansfield High coach Kevin Smith. "She's not just a player who plays the game."

Having surrendered the second-fewest goals (17) in a single season in school history as they did in 2007, the Mansfield High girls' soccer team may be even stingier defensively in 2008. Heading into week No. 3 of the season unbeaten through five matches (4-0-1), not only are the Hornets within two victories of matching their win total from last season; the Hornets have taken two shutouts (Canton, Stoughton) and limited both North Attleboro and King Philip to one goal.

Last season, the Hornets scored just 19 goals through 18 matches. Two weeks into the season, the Hornets had scored 10 goals in five matches.

It starts with Nagle shepherding a defense with Jackie McPherson in goal, Erin Bruno at stopper and Amanda Cunningham and Ali Dorval stationed as the outside backs.

It becomes orchestrated with Nagle having a distinctive flair for funneling the ball forward to her sister Hornets, having a coach's understanding of the game, knowing the rudiments for creating an attack and having a concern for protecting your side of the field.

"Soccer is so much about knowing what to do," said the Hornet senior over the weekend.

She should know because Nagle has been at it for over a decade now, playing with youth and club teams 12 months a year, traveling all through New England and along the Eastern seaboard for tournaments. During the spring, she represents the New England Eagles F.C. During the summer, Nagle represents Blackwatch R.I.

Either as a sweeper or as a central defender in a "flat back" system, Nagle has improved her performance in representing Mansfield High by playing club soccer, where the pace of play is much quicker, where the ball is played at the feet more, where most everyone is in position to make a play.

"The game is so much more about possession than the kick-and-run style that you see in high school soccer," said Nagle, who spent the summer kicking a soccer ball around in New England, Canada and North Carolina.

"I'll admit it, you miss out on some things," said Nagle of sacrificing some personal moments of pleasure for soccer. "But, if you love the game as much as I do, it's so much fun. It's worth it. I've met, I've practiced with and played with girls from all over the state.

"I have friends all over the state now, some really good friends." Nagle actually started her high school soccer career at Bishop Feehan. But after one year, she traded in her Shamrock green for Hornet green.

"She's one of those kids that doesn't comprehend losing," added Smith of Nagle's competitive fire. "And she's a great leader too, she's helping everyone else go places."

Whereas Nagle is a natural as a central defender, she can perform with poise and productivity at any position. Once in a while, Smith needs control of the midfield, so he moves Nagle up. "She can play anywhere," said Smith. "The whole game (against OA) changed with her presence there. Her reading of the game, she knows where to go - it's the best I've seen."

First and foremost, Nagle understands the importance of ball possession and keeping the ball out of your goal. After all, she is also a guard, playing the point or wing positions, for the Mansfield High basketball team.

"I think that soccer helps me out more with basketball because I know where to be defensively position-wise, I can angle people away from the hoop."

Nagle's checklist on defense is basic, knowing "when to settle the ball, when to clear, when to pass" and "don't give up an easy goal."

Having played hundreds upon hundreds of club-level matches, the experiences have enabled Nagle to learn how to settle a team down from the back line. "I like to carry the ball, but I know when I can and I can't go forward," said Nagle.

"I think that the reason that we've been so successful this season is that we have a lot of talent, a lot of speed and we have a strong defense," added Nagle.

After all, she's just one of 11 players on the pitch. "I can't touch my toes and I'm not the fastest kid, but I can get there, I can get to where I have to be.

Which is at the heart of the Hornets.

PETER GOBIS can be reached at 508-236-0375 or at pgobis@thesunchronicle.com.