After finishing the 2015 season with a 3-8-5 record, the New Canaan boys soccer was reminded that it’s difficult to make the playoffs when you play your entire schedule in the vaunted FCIAC. And that’s not just limited to the conference’s playoffs. With three games remaining on their schedule last year, the Rams needed to win just one of them to clinch a berth in the CIAC Class L state tournament—but that win would not come. And so the team fell short of one of its goals.
Chief among those disappointed with the outcome of how last season went was the team’s head coach, Rich Sutherland.
“I thought the boys were deeply unlucky not to make states last year,” Sutherland told NewCanaanite.com. “It didn’t come down to that final three-game stretch, though. It was a result of games earlier in the season where we didn’t see out games in the last five minutes. Throughout the season we gave away six points that, I feel, we had within our grasp and should’ve attained. But we didn’t. So it was a learning experience for the boys. And for those who are back with us this year, they know you have to see games all the way through.”
Senior tri-captains Hugo Potter (#6), Sam Stoner (#1, green GK jersey), and Chris Harte (#20) return poised to lead the 2016 Rams back to the postseason. Credit: Christine Betack
Now entering his fourth year at the helm of the program, Sutherland hopes his 2016 squad will have better fortune and get the chance to taste postseason play again. Leading the way in the team’s quest are its three senior captains—defenseman Chris Harte, midfielder Hugo Potter, and goalkeeper Sam Stoner—each of whom brings a unique and valuable ingredient to the recipe that helps put a team together.
“Hugo’s been with the team since he was freshman,” Sutherland said. “He’s the only one I’ve ever brought up as a freshman. So he’s been ever-present. He leads from the front, playing wise. Chris and Sam are both really likable guys. Chris is very vocal on the field. He always knows what’s happening and tries to help others out. Sam’s always around to get things done. As a goalkeeper, he’s our eyes and ears at the back. All three of them bring something different to the team. And their ability to complement one another in terms of their roles hopefully means they’ll do a good job and help get the boys in a position to make states this year.”
Chris Harte connecting on a header during a game vs. Trumbull on Sept. 22, 2015. Credit: Christine Betack
As a result of graduating 12 seniors from last year’s team though, in addition to the three senior captains, only five other boys return with prior varsity experience. Seniors Jeremy Abbruzzetti, Andrew Gibbens and Vinny Altamura are three of them. However, Altamura sat out Tuesday’s scrimmage vs. Weston with a significant knee injury, which his coach fears is a torn ACL. Juniors Stephen Curiale and Wes Farley round out the returnees.
That gives is a terrific opportunity for those poised to crack the varsity roster for the first time.
Among those eager to contribute are a wealth of juniors–Nathan Aliapoulios, Grant Carlson, Dylan Healey, Sean Manzella, Samuel Rhodes, Jack Richardson, Mead Savage, and Kent Williams—who together form a talented bunch ready to seize the opportunity in front of them. As well as a handful of sophomores—Diego Cidon, Matthew Cosco, Oliver Crookenden, Jake Luther, and Timothy Norton—each of whom should bring both a certain level of speed and energy that every soccer roster needs in an effort to stay as fresh as possible during a grueling FCIAC season.
And the early returns for the young and upbeat team this preseason have been rather positive as the Rams won both of their scrimmages. But a thing Sutherland stresses is that one cannot simulate the intense competitiveness of the incredibly deep FCIAC.
“In all honesty, it generally really doesn’t matter who we play,” a smiling Sutherland said when asked about the FCIAC’s competition. “The entire FCIAC’s tough. But we start with such a difficult stretch. We have Danbury away, and they’re likely to be one of the top-two or three teams in the league this year. That’s followed by Greenwich who is always in the top-two or three and will likely be there again. We’ve got Darien early on and they should be in the top half of the league this year. Each and every team’s gonna give us a difficult game.”
But in order to achieve the goal they did not last year and qualify for a postseason tournament, Sutherland knows what his team must do, each and every time it takes the field.
“Our job is to grind each game out and frustrate them [each opponent] and try to be as competitive as we can be,” Sutherland said. “Hopefully we take advantage of the breaks when we can. And, hopefully, we surprise a few people along the way.”
The boys’ season kicks off on Friday, Sept. 9 at Danbury. Then the home schedule commences the following Monday, Sept. 12, when the Rams host Greenwich at Conner Field at 4 p.m.