Boy’s soccer playoff run cut short

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:21:05 +0000

Rider soccer has always been the best of the best the cream of the crop, the head honchos, and this season has not been different from any of the previous seasons. Despite the loss to Northside High, the varsity team says they had a great season that was filled with excitement and that bonds that formed during this season.
“We started the season with a bunch of talented individuals, but as the season progressed we ending up forming a competitive team,” Head Soccer Coach Joshua Hill said. “We had a great season. We went to went to regional quarter finals and placed 4th in it.”
Players say there were plenty of memories throughout the season.
“The most memorable and exciting moment was the win against Denton, It was the most intense game we played that year,” Mario Morales said.
With some slots being left open this year, some of the juniors had to step up there game
“The juniors weren’t treated like ‘next year’s group’ because we needed them but the fact that we had to rely on them made up all closer together because they meant as much to us as the seniors did,” senior Travis Penney said.
Plenty of highlights filled the season.
“Some of our high lights during the season were going 10-0 in the district and going on a 12-game winning streak,” Hill said.
And, of course, one of the team’s biggest high light was beating Old High not once but twice in their season.
But players say fans should remember key players that made those highlights for the year.
“I think the key players on the team had to have been the seniors,” Hill said.
The seniors were a big part of the Rider soccer boy’s wins.
Losing the last game was a real disappointment to us,” Hill said. “The whole team took it really hard.”
Some of the players were disappointed that the loss kept them from a chance at State.
“What made it worse is we played better teams then them,” Penney said about Northside, the team that beat The Raiders 2-1, knocking them out of the playoffs. But the players have come to face the facts.
“In soccer if you’re not meant to win that game, you will not win it,” Morales said.
The last game with Northside High was not what they expected. With this season over and the seniors leaving, it will have a big impact on next year’s team.
“I would say the seniors were the key players in our success,” Hill said.
But don’t count out the Juniors for next year. Hill said they are going to come out strong and on top.
“Next year look forward to a team that has a chip on their shoulder,” Hill said.
Some of the seniors are optimistic about the juniors and sophomores who are moving up.
“Next year’s team will be pretty good due to all the experiences they got from this year,” Penney said. “Next year will most likely be full of wins and upsets, but we have a strong offense with Ruben Flores, and with Minsung Park leading the team, anything is possible.”

Boys soccer undefeated and uncontested in district play

byrondowling — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:46:47 +0000

The Rider Raiders Boys soccer team is undefeated as they’ve kicked off district play possessing a record of (9-0-1).

The Raiders most recent game came against the Decatur Eagles in district play, their second game in as many days as the Raiders were looking to stay unbeaten. Josh Findlay scored 15 minutes into the game assisted by Sawyer Horton and it proved to be the only goal of the game as the Raiders claimed a 1-0 decision over the Eagles. Dylan Hillard, who has allowed only three goals all year, shutout the Eagles in the first 60 minutes then Drake Svcvepinski came into the game and kept the Eagles from evening the score. The shutout is Hillard’s 7th of the year.

“Were in a fight with complacency and were losing,” said Coach Josh Hill. “This game shouldn’t been as close as it was.”

The day before the Raiders took on Decatur, they took on crosstown district rival the Hirschi Huskies in a decisive battle of district contenders. The game had originally been scheduled for the previous Friday, but the area snowstorm pushed the game’s date to the following Monday.
Fresh off an extended siesta, the Raiders were rested and ready to take on the Hirschi Huskies. The Raiders jumped out to an early lead and didn’t look back as they had no trouble handling the Huskies as the Raiders raced past Hirschi by a score of 5-0. Goalkeeper Dylan Hillard recorded his 6th shutout of the year and Drake Svcvepinski played the second half and shutout the Huskies.

“Defense has really been the strength of our team,” Hill said.
“It’s always good to have options at goalie so if something happens the backup has varsity experience,” said Hill of his Goalie’s Dylan Hillard and Drake Svcvepinski.

A few days earlier the Raiders hosted district opponent Burkburnett looking to improve their unbeaten record. The Raiders had no problem doing that as they handed the struggling Bulldogs a 4-0 district loss. Tyler Howard scored twice in the first half, one on a free kick and another assisted by Seth Lyons who also scored to give the Raiders a 3-0 halftime lead. In the second half Nick Oechsner connected on a free kick that put the game well out of reach as the Raiders got the win by a score of 4-0. Rider goalkeeper Dylan Hillard recorded the shutout in the first half and in the second half Drake Svcvepinski preserved the shutout eliminating any comeback thoughts the bulldogs had in mind

“Lots of players got experience and playing time,” said Coach Josh Hill. “It’s always good to score early it breaks down your opponents hope.”

The Raiders had opened up their district schedule against the Leopards of Gainesville High School with district champion expectations. The Raiders took the first step in that direction as they had no trouble handling the Leopards by prevailing in an uncontested 4-0 victory.
Josh Findlay and Tyler Howard each scored in the first half half then Sawyer Horton and Cash Fields scored in the second half to put the game away. Chase Roberts, Ryan Castelli, Harrison Howard, and Josh Findlay each notched an assist for the Raiders. On the defensive end goalkeeper Dylan Hillard shutout the Leopards in the first half, then backup goalkeepers Drake Svcvepinski and Logan Spence, in a combined effort, blanked the Leopards in the second half for the shutout.

“Our offense has struggled. We’ve had chances but just haven’t connected,” said Hill.

The Rider Chronicle » boys soccer

Boy’s soccer playoff run cut short

Boys soccer undefeated and uncontested in district play