This time of year, folks in Rye and neighboring Harrison typically glance at their respective football schedules to circle the date for the Rye vs. Harrison football game. (It’s Oct. 17 this year at Rye.)
But local soccer aficionados had Tuesday’s early-season clash between the two neighboring schools circled as well. Those in attendance at Nugent Stadium saw a dominant Rye squad jump out to a four-goal halftime lead and eventually defeat the Huskies by the one-sided score of 5-0.
Harrison, a 2025 Class AA state semifinalist, played Rye, the 2025 Class A state runner-up, evenly for the first 30 minutes. But just over 10 minutes before halftime, Rye erupted for four game-deciding goals. 4-0 Rye at the half, and Harrison could muster no response.
It was a lead no one saw coming.
“We certainly didn’t expect to be so far ahead at the half,” said Rye coach Jared Small. “This was one of those games where we expected our opponents’ skill to be in line with ours, and I think we saw that for most of the first half. But we made a few tactical changes with our midfield and our boys worked hard to change the course of this game.”
Junior Felix Wismer got things started with a patient, composed mini-breakaway goal off an assist from senior co-captain Kasen Scarperi. A few minutes later, sophomore James Hayashi struck with an unassisted top shelf bullet to make it 2-0 Rye.
Then, sophomore Connor Dehmer out-hustled Harrison’s goalie on a slightly misplayed ball, and Rye was instantly up 3-0. Two minutes later, junior Harrison Zimmer received an appetizing pass from Wismer and buried it low to send Rye to the break with an insurmountable 4-0 lead.
“We knew Harrison was a skilled team, that they matched up well with us,” Scarperi said. “But as long as we keep our intensity up in the first half – like we did today – we’re confident that we’re going to create problems for anyone we play.”
Near the end of regulation, senior Luka Rozende sent a cross into the box, which was cleanly headed into the goal by fellow senior Kelston Litwin for Rye’s fifth and final goal of the game.
“We’re down a couple of players right now and our bench was huge for us today,” Scarperi said. “Really proud of our team’s intensity.”
Rye carries an 8-0 goal differential into its third game of the season, Thursday against Arlington at Nugent Stadium.
Man of the Match: Conor Harrington
The junior midfielder’s number was called early and often by Small, and Harrington delivered. His hard-nosed defense, deft passing, and tireless motor epitomized Rye’s gritty showing.
“This game was all about who was going to work a little harder, maybe endure some pain, suffer a bit,” Small said. “Conor’s play all game was exactly what we were hoping for. It was great to see that kind of effort.”
