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Rutland Herald Fall Sports Guide 2018
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER PREVIEW
The science of honing a keeper
E
“We are trying to build a couple of
goalies,” coach Tim Gallipo said.
Williams has a 6-foot-5 frame making
for pretty good coverage of the goal.
By TOM HALEY
STAFF WRITER
mmitt Ackerman is the club-
house manager for the Del-
marva Shorebirds, the Class A
affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles in
Salisbury, Maryland.
But it is soccer, not baseball, that
Ackerman will most readily be associat-
ed with in his hometown of West Rut-
land. He was not only an outstanding
goalie for the Golden Horde, but has
helped groom the last few West Rut-
land goalkeepers.
The last three Golden Horde keep-
ers — Josh Smith, Jake Bartlett and
Kyle Laughlin — have all earned Di-
vision IV All-State status. Ackerman’s
tutelage has been the common denom-
inator.
West Rutland fans are happy that
Laughlin is still there. He should help
make the Horde a red-hot contender
this fall.
The goalie is a critical piece of ev-
ery soccer team and some of the area
teams are fortunate to have a seasoned
keeper returning to the fold.
Rutland coach Ron Henderson does
not. Graduation took Ryan McKay, one
of the state’s top keepers, and the bat-
tle for the starting goalkeeper spot was
a focus of the Raiders’ preseason.
Proctor had the services of Jake Bart-
lett for one year after he transferred
from West Rutland. At this time, it
appears freshman Ian French or Solo-
mon Parker will be his successor.
French comes in a small package
but he is fearless and, for a freshman,
comes with some significant experi-
ence from lower levels. His father Scott
is a goalie coach, so they have been
working on strategies for the high
shots, like getting down the timing and
BLACK RIVER
ROBERT LAYMAN / STAFF PHOTO
Proctor’s Nate Greb, right, kicks the ball during a scrimage against Vergennes
at the College of St. Joseph.
tipping the ball over the bar.
Mill River coach Shane Little is bless-
ed with an All-MVL keeper in Tyler
Regula.
Both keepers graduated at Fair Ha-
ven. New coach Tim Dayton and his
staff are trying to mold sophomore
John St. Peter into a goalie.
“He runs a chainsaw working with
his father so he’s confident and brave.
That’s a good place to start with a goal-
ie,” Dayton said.
Mount St. Joseph will likely go with
youth in the net. Freshmen Jacob Wil-
liams and Austin Clarke are vying for
the job.
Nolan Link is another of those
coaches starting over in goal following
the graduation of John LeTourneau.
But he is feeling pretty good about
Jonathan Peters and his ability to pro-
tect the cage.
“I am pretty hopeful about him. He
is an athletic kid who can get out and
get the ball.” Link said.
The leaders of the Presidents figure
to be returning midfield players Ryan
Boyle and Zach Paul.
“They set the tone,” Link said.
They took their teammates on runs
this summer, part of the offseason that
has Link encouraged.
“A lot of them put the time in this
summer,” he said.
Other returning players include Jack
Boyle, Josh Noble, Josh Lambert, Ryan
Sheehan, Taylor Baitz, Bowen Stark,
Cyrus Bickford, Tidgh Bannon and
Colby Clouart.
Noble, Sheehan, Stark, Bannon and
Bickford, the stopper in the back, fig-
ure to key the defense.
Graduation took only two players
— one was leading goal scorer Drew
Schoenberger.
Link believes that the Presidents will
still score with the wealth being more
evenly distributed.
Black River is living on borrowed
time, with only two school years re-
maining before its closure unless there
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