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is a successful launch of an independent Black River .
Link feels that has only provided greater motivation for his players .
The Presidents are hoping to improve on a 3-9-1 record .
FAIR HAVEN
If you are looking for Dayton to name returning varsity players , it won ’ t take him long .
Seven players graduated and three others went over to the football team .
Patrick Finnigan and Austin Beayon are the only returning seniors .
It ’ s a long , steep climb to respectability with a team that finished 0-13-1 last season . But Dayton sees signs that climb can be negotiated eventually .
He saw Tyler McClure score a goal on a bicycle kick in practice .
“ It was nice . I told him we were going to start charging admission for practice ,” Dayton said .
Another sign : “ I saw them transferring what we were covering in the classroom onto the field . That was encouraging ,” Dayton said .
“ I am happiest of all that they seem eager to learn ,” he said .
GREEN MOUNTAIN
Green Mountain has a new coach and a new philosophy .
“ We ’ re going to change things up ,” said Cole Wilhelm , who for the past two years has been the Chieftains ’ junior varsity mentor . “ This year we are taking a different approach to how we want to play soccer , and so far the team has bought into the new system and the new philosophy , and we hope to be able to use it to our advantage .”
Green Mountain plays in the Marble Valley League and is coming off a 2-10- 2 season . While the record was not terrific last year , it was a young team that returns 11 veterans like seniors Chase Ordway-Smith , Brooks Ordway-Smith , Carver Provance , Chris Savage , Tyler
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Mosher and Cameron Call . “ We already had one scrimmage where the new system that we put in worked out well ,” said Wilhelm .
Other veterans on the team include junior James Anderson and sophomores Sawyer Pippin , Ty Veysey , Ty Merrill and Skyler Klezos .
“ We also have a lot of young players on the team , but they are a talented group .” said Wilhem , who listed the following freshmen on the roster : Everett Mosher , Elias-Stowell Aleman , Jayden Hinkle , Kagan Hance , James Birmingham , Royce Schultz and Dylan McCarthy . “ This group bodes well for the future of Green Mountain soccer .”
MILL RIVER
Soccer coaches are fond of building from the back forward , so Little has a great start with Regula in net .
There is also some talent in front of him with Zach Ames , a back who plays in the middle . Dana Seward is a returning senior on defense .
Bryce Duncan brings a lot of skill and experience to the midfield .
There is also a new face who could have an immediate impact . Freshman Tyler Corey will be counted on to bring some scoring punch to the front line .
“ He doesn ’ t look like a ninth grader . He ’ s bigger than most of our seniors ,” Little said .
Aiden Botti is another who could give the Minutemen some sizzle up front .
“ He showed a lot late last season ,” Little said . “ He has a lot of quickness .” Little likes what he has seen in the preseason . “ The kids are buying into a new system ,” he said .
That system will put more emphasis on the offense than has been the case in the past .
“ Our strength is our defense with Tyler , Zach and Dana ,” Little said . “ Defense has been our strength . Now ,
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we want to be more offensive minded . We are working on being more attack minded and trying to take people on .”
Little is hopeful the new approach will help the Minutemen take a big step up from last year ’ s 2-11-1 record .
MSJ
Williams and Clarke can ’ t both be in the goal , but the one that isn ’ t won ’ t necessarily be relegated to the sidelines .
“ They are both very skilled field players ,” Gallipo said .
Joey Giancola returns after an outstanding freshman season .
“ We ’ ve got some options for him . We can have him as a back or as the stopper ,” Gallipo said .
Logan Starling is another key piece of the defense .
“ He is one of the best sweepers in our area . He cleans up everything ,” Gallipo said .
Other returning players include Keaton Wright-Chapman ( mid / stopper ), Ezra Robichaud ( mid / striker ), Michael Vitagliano ( defense / mid ), Cortland Hussak ( defense / mid / striker ) and Dustin Clarke ( defense / mid ).
New players are Leo Carranza ( defense / mid ), Harold St . Surin ( defense / mid ), Javier Estevez ( mid / striker ), Devon Bathalon ( defense / mid ), Xavier Lawson ( striker / mid ), Sam Paquin ( mid / defense ), Cristian Carranza ( mid / striker ), Ethan Courcelle ( mid / striker ) and Chase Wiegers ( mid / striker ).
“ I am very excited about this year . I have a great core of players coming back even though we lost four to graduation , playing a different sport or transferring ,” Gallipo said . “ The boys are taking the challenge of filling those voids head on , working hard and doing a great job . I look forward to a very successful season and a more successful run in the playoffs .”
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OTTER VALLEY
Richard Williams is excited about this group that will be trying to take another step after a solid season that saw the Otters go 8-5-1 .
“ This is the first group I have had all the way through , said Williams , who is in his fourth season as head coach after piloting the girls team for five years .
Returning seniors are Ethan Sulik-Doty , Reilly Shannon and Pat McKheigan — all midfield players — along with strikers Billy Mattson and Kody Smith and goalkeeper Clay Hayes .
Returning juniors are Sawyer Pierpont and Sam Scholar .
“ We have some new kids who are going to be good additions ,” Williams said .
Returning a keeper who has been getting better by the season is an ingredient that can keep the Otters in games .
“ Clay is a good shot stopper ,” Williams said .
He has been improving on coming out to cut down angles .
“ He is a super kid . He ’ s great to work with ,” Williams said .
PROCTOR
Last season , Proctor coach Chad Wilson had a numbers problem . This year , it ’ s a field problem .
The numbers problem has pretty much been resolved and if given a choice , he ’ ll take the field problem .
The Phantoms boast 17 players , giving Wilson the ability to sub in players and keep fresh legs , a luxury he didn ’ t have last year .
“ It ’ s always good to have depth ,” Wilson said .
Returning starters are Joe Valerio , Nate Greb , Jacob Perkins and Conner McKearin .
Continued on Page 6
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