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Rutland Herald Fall Sports Guide
Friday, October 6, 2017
was an All-MVL keeper last year at West
Rutland.
The Phantoms started eight seniors on
last’s year’s state title team that finished
at 11-1-4, but Joe Valerio and Solomon
Parker logged plenty of playing time and
they return.
Connor McKearin is a freshman
who saw significant varsity time as an
eighth-grader.
Almond will be in the midfield where
he will look to be a stabilizing influence
on the inexperienced players around
him.
The Phantoms open the season at
home on Sept. 6 against Mount St.
Joseph. They will then host the Jimmy
T. Showcase on Sept. 9 where the match-
ups have Mill River meeting Proctor and
Otter Valley clashing with Fair Haven.
RUTLAND
It’s always nice to be well fortified in
the goal. The Raiders have that luxury
with Ryan McKay as a three-year starter.
“He is tactically and technically sound,” coach Ron
Henderson said. “He sees the field very well and reads
the play very well. He is very, very athletic and has great
reactions.”
He will also have some experience in front of
him. Keegan Bliss and Caden Curtis are returning
defenders.
Returning in the midfield are Eli Henni, Andres
Aguilar and Jacob Henderson.
Henni was one of the leading scorers for last year’s
team that went 8-6 in the regular season before bowing
out to Essex in the quarterfinals.
Aguilar and Henderson are also capable of putting
it in the net.
“Andres came back stronger this year. He hit the
weight room and got his body ready for the season,”
coach Henderson said.
Kyle Waite and Jameson Evans are others who are
likely to see action up front.
The Raiders have something to defend. They are
two-time Marble Valley League champions.
They will open the season Sept. 1 at Colchester
and then head to the Essex Tournament, where their
opponents will be Essex and CVU. The home opener
is Sept. 12 against Mill River in the H