Since the Rye boys soccer team’s only loss of the season on Sept. 10, not only have they amassed a seven-game unbeaten streak, they’ve outscored their opponents by a margin of 30-6. With each passing week, the Garnets’ confidence swells.
On Monday, Rye beat Eastchester 4-1, with two goals from junior Alec Dodge Terra and one apiece from sophomore Felix Wismer and freshman Connor Dehmer. Eastchester’s lone goal came on a late penalty kick when the game was already decided, and Rye improved to 9-1-2.
Over the weekend, Rye delivered a loud-and-clear message to previously undefeated Pleasantville with a 4-2 victory Saturday on the Panthers’ home turf. All four Rye goals were scored by Felix “The Wiz” Wismer, and the game was not as close as the score indicated.
With the Section 1 Class A playoffs set to begin in two weeks, the Rye boys find themselves in a familiar spot: they are a team no one will want to face in the postseason.
Any analysis of how this Rye team has gotten to where they are must begin with their stellar midfield: seniors Shun Nagata and Lex Cox, and juniors Peter Wilmot and Kasen Scarperi, have been the engine room since day one, and lately, that engine has been firing on all cylinders. Not only is this coach Jared Small’s most highly skilled midfield in years, these boys possess, create, pass, and hustle all game, every game. They play with their heads up and have tremendous field vision.
Up top in the land of the striker, Wismer, Dehmer, Dodge Terra, and senior Alex Rojas have taken what the midfield has given them and converted that fuel into goals. Lots of goals. Wismer, Rye’s leading scorer on the year, has five goals in Rye’s past two games.
In the back row, Harrison Zimmer, Cole Furber, and Christian Hoffman – all sophomores – have matured into a strong defensive line for Rye. And with another sophomore, Will Alexander, now well-established as Rye’s starting goalie, the Garnets’ defense will only get stronger as the regular season winds down.
Off the bench, Rye has seen tremendous contributions and key minutes from junior midfielder Fillip Glitterstam, senior defenseman Nico Etinger, senior Owen Wismer, and freshman James Hayashi.
If anyone thought this was going to be a rebuilding year after Rye won the 2024 section championship, they were wrong.
Four games remain on the regular-season schedule, starting with a 5 p.m. home game Wednesday against Pelham.
