With playoffs nearing as the regular season winds down, the Rye High School varsity boys soccer team is building momentum, winning four of five games over the last two weeks.
Three of the wins were of particular significance, coming against league foes Pelham, Harrison, and Eastchester. Rye shut out all three opponents, beating Pelham, 2-0 on Sept. 28, followed by wins against Harrison (1-0) and Eastchester (2-0).
Earlier in the five-game run, Rye beat Irvington on Sept. 24 in a game that showed off the combination of senior leadership and young talent that has coach Jared Small feeling optimistic about the team’s chances with only three games remaining before the playoffs.
Senior goalkeeper Ayden Breen secured his first complete-game shutout, with fellow senior Kaden Zion scoring off a penalty kick and two of the team’s youngest players, Rei Nagata and Harrison Zimmer, combining for the other score.
The only blemish was a 1-0 loss on Sept. 25 to Byram Hills, a tough, defensive battle against an undefeated league opponent.
Throughout the season, Rye’s excellent midfield play has allowed the team to remain dynamic on both ends of the field. Thanks to leadership and consistency from juniors Lex Cox and Shun Nagata, as well as contributions from underclassmen Peter Wilmot, Kasen Scarperi, and Tino MacKinnon, Rye has effortlessly transitioned between offensive attacks and defensive pressures.
To close the regular season, Rye has significant rematches leading into the playoffs: tomorrow at Pelham and Oct. 19 at Harrison.