In his third season as head coach, Kyle Lyman faced a challenge with his team. With seven graduating seniors last year, the boys soccer team was facing a shortage of experienced and physical players. However, many bright-futured freshmen filled the absent spots, and starters from last season significantly improved their play making this season, making them much more successful than initially thought. There was a huge question mark in terms of goalkeeping, as Zach Flaherty, the previous starting goalie, graduated and left a huge gap in the team. But Lacrosse goalie Zach Schneider stepped up. Playing his first year of soccer, Zach has done exceptionally well and brings a lot of spirit to the team whether it be during bus rides, warmups, or practices.
The freshmen called up to varsity have performed very well on the field and have a very successful four years ahead of them. Chaz Mahar, a midfielder, suffered a detrimental injury last year that saw him missing his second year of JV. Mahar recovered and has become an instrumental part of the midfield, constantly chasing down players and mixing things up in the middle. Although he only has two assists, his work goes far beyond the goal tallies. Connor Cook, a defender, has a large presence on the field despite his smaller stature, constantly beating and frustrating larger wingers on opposition teams. Despite his size, and the physicality of the sport, Cook remains determined and set to close down anyone he’s up against. Nate Beatty, an attacker, is the leader in assists on the team with eight, scoring four himself. Primarily playing right wing, Nate uses his acceleration and pace to beat defenders of any age. He starts up a lot of the Wahconah attacks and has become a stand out in the offense.
The boys team suffered an undeserving 3-0 loss at home to Easthampton. They created a lot of chances, and dominated the game, however, they lacked the proper conversion. Wahconah bounced back on the road against Taconic where Leo Stringer, a sophomore, converted a second half penalty to scrape away a 1-0 win. Mahar High School came to Wahconah losing almost all of their starters from last season making them a much weaker team. Wahconah showed no mercy and thrashed them 7-0 with Cooper Calvert, a junior, netting five goals with freshmen Nate Beatty claiming the other two, and assisting Calvert three times.
Wahconah had another heavy win against a young Southwick, beating them 6-1 with Leo Stringer scoring a hat-trick. Wahconah then faced a lot of adversity against South Hadley, and made mistakes that were capitalized on by the Tigers in a rough 6-0 loss. Given a chance to rebound, the boys headed down to Springfield International Charter School, and fought out a 1-0 win with Beatty scoring a first-half winner. Wahconah was handed a rough two games ahead, with a 5-0 home loss to a strong Pittsfield High School, and a 3-0 loss on the road at league leaders Frontier.
Wahconah was stuck at 4-4 and the biggest game of the season awaited them at Easthampton. Seeking revenge for the first game of the season, the boys came out flying with Calvert scoring a goal inside the six, from Beatty’s ball a mere five minutes into the game. Wahconah never turned back and Beatty scored a lefty strike into the top right corner with twenty minutes left in the game, to secure a win for the Warriors.
Wahconah continued their good form with a 3-1 win at Southwick, the score should have been higher but the conversion in the final third was lacking. Saturday the fifth, Wahconah hosted Lenox for a rivalry that has been built over the years. Under the lights, a crucial game for Western Mass placement. Lenox led 1-0 at the half, but Wachonah knew they could score in the second half, and Calvert equalized early in the half from Beatty’s ball, after taking down his defender on the right flank. Calvert scored again as Alexander Jerebstov, a junior, lasered a ball in from the edge of the six yard box. Lenox regrouped and came back through an unfortunate goal by Wahconah. The Warriors were not gonna settle for a draw. Beatty was fouled on the right wing thirty yards from goal, taking the free kick, he lifted a ball into the six yard box where Stringer awaited it, flicking it past the Lenox keeper with only ten minutes left. Lenox attacked relentlessly in the last ten minutes but Schiender and the Warriors held them off and came away with a 3-2 win. The boys team is on a three game winning streak and hosts Hopkins Academy on the seventh of October.
Jason Moynihan, a senior, and Ethan Coughlin, a junior, were a dynamic center-back pair with Thane Adams, a junior, and Connor Cook, as two fast, who are both smart, outside defenders. Mahar, Stringer, and Jerobtsov held a strong midfield and Noah Willis, a senior, Calvert, and Beatty continued to net more goals for the team.
The last five games of the season are as follows:
Win vs Hopkins Academy 3-0
Loss vs South Hadley 0-4
Loss vs Frontier Regional School 0-2
Win @ Mahar 4-0
Win @ Lenox 5-0
Loss vs Taconic 1-2
Loss @ Easthampton 0-1
Loss @ Lynn Voc.Tech 0-4
