RYE - Spending time at Lake Placid and hiking the Adirondacks was one of Peter Wilmot's biggest thrills this summer. There is an obvious affinity for nature, but more so the excitement of taking on a tall task and the fulfillment of completing it.
That mindset mirrors the approach his Rye boys soccer team has it prepares for the upcoming season. The Garnets last fall went two months without a loss and marched to the state final, but came up just short.
As the team officially began its fall preseason on Monday, August 24, coach Jared Small said it's imperative his players avoid complacency.
Despite the success and what still is an impressive roster, and the expectations that accompany that, the game doesn't have memory — they can't afford to carry
themselves as if they'll resume from the last save point.
"This is a new season and a new team," Small said, although the Garnets do return several standouts. "We've gotta figure out what works for us and how this group can be successful. Last year isn't all that relevant to us now, other than the knowledge that we're capable of doing well."
As far as the group climbed last season, almost reaching the summit, the journey restarts and they'll have to carve their own path.
"We know what it's like to put in all that work and be great, then trip over the final hurdle," Wilmot said of their loss to East Aurora in the Class A state final last November. "But I think it's made us more motivated. We know the feeling of disappointment, so that experience has taught us to be more resilient and find the extra 10% to get over the top."
Names to know
Kasen Scarperi, Sr., M; Peter Wilmot, Sr., M; Alec Dodge Terra, Sr., M; Connor Dehmer, So., F; Cole Furber, Jr., D; Felix Wismer, Jr., F; Harrison Zimmer, Jr., D
Schedule
Sept. 2 vs. Sleepy Hollow
Sept. 8 vs. Harrison
Sept. 10 vs. Arlington
Sept. 16 at Keio
Sept. 18 at Suffern
Sept. 22 vs. Walter Panas
Sept. 24 vs. Byram Hills
Sept. 28 vs. Pelham
Sept. 30 at Somers
Oct. 2 at Edgemont
Oct. 6 at Byram Hills
Oct. 8 vs. Peekskill
Oct. 10 at Pelham
Oct. 12 at Cornwall
Oct. 14 at Mahopac
Oct. 19 vs. Edgemont
Takeaways
Rye did graduate two of its stars, Lex Cox and Shun Nagata, but theirs was a team driven by its quality depth and collective skill. Those things are likely still strengths with several starters and key contributors returning.
Wilmot is a tireless sparkplug who is superb defensively and maintains possession. Dodge Terra, with his footwork and instincts, is an excellent playmaker. Zimmer and Furber helped anchor a defense that recorded six shutouts in the playoffs. Dehmer was their leading scorer as a freshman and Wismer is an offensive weapon.
"Our midfield is looking awesome, but I think we have weapons in all areas," said Scarperi, who thrived last season as a facilitator and was an explosive scorer in the postseason. Our goalies have refined their skills in the last year, too. I've watched the work everyone has put in and seen the improvement."
Like many of the contending teams, the Garnets had a short "offseason," getting started in January with their strength and conditioning program, and having that lead into spring and summer leagues. And there were, as usual, their break-of-dawn workouts with longtime assistant coach Jon Tuttle, a fitness guru.
"We really haven't been apart much," Small said, "but the official start of fall always feels like a rebirth."
The program added to what already is an accomplished coaching staff, bringing in Conor McGlynn as an assistant. The 27-year-old is a star midfielder for Westchester SC of the USL.
"I like our potential," said Scarperi, who worked extensively on his dribbling and shot speed. "Our players are awesome and we might have the best coaching staff in Section 1."
Against a difficult schedule last season, the Garnets outscored opponents by an average margin of 2.4 goals per game. The team also improved steadily as the season progressed, going on a tear after a Sept. 10 loss to rival Byram Hills, then dominating most of their playoff matchups en route to reaching the state final for the first time since 1979.
This squad seems capable of approximating that. On paper, at least.
Talking points
"We're a work in progress, but we're starting to gel," Wilmot said. "The nine months of work leading up to this is great for our bonding. We've got a core group that's close because we've spent so much time together, building up to this. And now we've got some new faces coming in and that keeps the energy up."
"Some guys have club or other obligations, so this is our first time being back together as an entire group," Small said. "Part of the excitement this week is seeing how everyone's work and individual improvement will translate into the group being successful."
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rye returns with key players after reaching boys soccer state final
