10 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 matchups 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 Harry Loyzelle Memorial Tournament . Mount Abraham and South Burlington will round out the Loyzelle field .
WEST RUTLAND Coach Scott Maxham noticed something during preseason practice . “ During shooting drills we had a lot of guys who can shoot well ,” he said .
Nobody shoots it better than his son Eric Maxham . He had a whopping 33 goals last year and has more than 50 career goals heading into this junior season .
Coach Maxham has a blend of guys who will be
impact players immediately and others who are skilled and will grow into varsity level play as they go along .
One of the impact players is Tyler Serrani who played on the varsity last year as an eighth-grader .
“ He is very skilled . He will play center back and striker ,” Maxham said .
Tim Blanchard is another freshman who will be a factor . He is a left footer who reminds Maxham of Jake Dow . The comparison to the 2017 Westside graduate is quite a compliment as Dow had a motor that took him all over the field for all 80 minutes .
Mac Perry is a freshman who has played a lot of club soccer and should be prominent in the Golden Horde ’ s success .
Sophomore Kyle Laughlin slides into the goal after being the backup last season .
“ He trained all summer . He is strong and aggressive ,” Maxham said . “ He might not be the positional goalie you like , but he is athletic and makes saves that make you say ‘ Wow .’”
Big things are expected from junior Matt Harte in the middle of the field .
Nobody has bigger shoes to fill than Tyler Carrington as he tries to fill the void left by the graduation of Jordan Johnson , one of the best sweepers in the state . Carrington brings experience and hustle .
Senior Garrett Waite has been a role player for three years and this is his time . He will be an important piece of the defense .
Junior Austin May came into camp steeled by a great summer of work .
“ He played last year but has worked his tail off this summer ,” Maxham said .
Junior Phillip Wedin will see plenty of time between playing midfield .
Eric Maxham will be one of the captains . He came back more vocal this year , emerging as a leader . He is also the Horde ’ s most skilled player . Coach Maxham likes this team ’ s chances to put the ball in the net . “ I wouldn ’ t call it a weakness but we are rebuilding on defense ,” he said .
A complete version of article was originally published at the start of the fall season .