Windham varsity boys’ soccer holds off Yarmouth

By Matt Pascarella

In a complete reversal from when the Windham High varsity boys’ soccer team lost to Yarmouth 1-0 during the summer season, the Eagles turned it around on Thursday, Aug. 29 at Yarmouth where they earned a 1-0 win and kept the Clippers’ offense at bay during this preseason matchup.

WHS senior Sam Rogers focuses on the ball as he heads
toward the goal during a preseason boys' prep soccer 
match at Yarmouth High School.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

“Every year we go through growing pains,” said WHS senior Luke Cunniffe. “I feel like we’re still going through them right now; it seems this year we’re getting through them earlier and people are buying in earlier. Now we’re developing a style of play and a culture within our team. Today’s win was honestly just work rate, especially defensively, when kids lost the ball, they worked as hard as they could to win it back right away. I think that’s what helped us get through picking up marks and helped us play as a team and playing for each other. This game shows Yarmouth is no slouch, they are one of the best teams, but this just shows we can compete with the big dogs, and we’re one of them.”

The Eagles showed their adjustment and improvement from their previous summer season game with the Clippers when Windham senior Sam Rogers scored during the first half.

Windham defense was aggressive, and players went hard after the ball. Windham’s offense had several shots at goal, but Yarmouth defense was also strong.

“I think as a team we play better defensively than offensively,” said Rogers. “I think it all comes down to the formation with the players we have. Getting the ball out of the box went well. We did do good communication-wise. We didn’t do great connecting passes.”

According to Rogers, they are starting to click as a team and once the regular season starts, they’ll take it from there.

At the start of the second half, Windham senior goalie Lukas Hammond had a solid stop.

“We came in here and I feel like we matched their energy well,” said Windham junior Tyrie James. “We played our positions well; we played our formation well. We moved the ball well; and on defense everyone gave 110 percent the whole time – everyone was just going, going, going – marking their man, playing their position, playing their role. Yarmouth’s a great team and we beat them, so it shows that we can compete with some of the good teams.”

Windham offense fired multiple shots at goal and its defense kept Yarmouth from finding the back of the net. Windham sophomore goalie Jackson Goodwin recorded a great save to prevent a tie toward the end of the half.

“There’s still some pieces of the puzzle that are starting to lock in a little bit,” said Windham varsity boys’ soccer coach Jeff Neal. “This was about playing the toughest teams we can in the preseason in regard to technical ability and physical prowess too and see how we match up. Windham is more comfortable with the formation we played today. The formation we played today helped out in keeping players in-position and not having to run as much as the previous formation. The work rate was good, and communication was exceptional today. They played a solid match whistle to whistle.” <