With a roster buoyed by eight senior veterans, the Rye Country Day boys’ soccer team was primed for postseason success in 2011. The team achieved just that, appearing in both the NYSAIS State title game and FAA tournament championship. Although they lost both tilts, the Wildcats finished an impressive 14-4 with a 3-2 postseason mark. They posted 10 shutouts and won 11 in a row at one point.

With a roster buoyed by eight senior veterans, the Rye Country Day boys’ soccer team was primed for postseason success in 2011. The team achieved just that, appearing in both the NYSAIS State title game and FAA tournament championship. Although they lost both tilts, the Wildcats finished an impressive 14-4 with a 3-2 postseason mark. They posted 10 shutouts and won 11 in a row at one point.

“This was the first time in six years I didn’t have a superstar,” said head coach Cristiano Pereira. “We didn’t win the finals, but the journey there was one of the best we’ve had as a team. I have to say this was my proudest season as coach.”

Much credit goes to the senior class: captains Jonathan Karp, Michael Walsh, and Matt Stevens, and fellow classmates Marcos Esquivel, Zach Needles, Alex Gendelman, Jonathan Lassman, and Joey Rosengard. There’s no doubt that Pereira will have the Wildcats competing for a championship again in 2012 with rising captains Tommy Garry, Andreas Soto, and Billy Ostrau joined by teammates Ignacio de Lera, Tyler Kaye, Alec Boccanfuso, and Kevin Collado.