By Warren Kozireski
With all the deserved attention paid to Spencerport’s girls soccer team over the past decade or so, the Rangers’ “other” team—boys soccer—is doing their part this season to earn their own notoriety two seasons removed from their last title.
Tied atop the Class AA Section V standings with Churchville-Chili with an 11-1-2 record and ranked 11th in the New York State Sportswriters Association October 13 poll, the Rangers are getting offensive contributions from across the lineup and have posted nine shutouts in 14 games.
“We have good captains (seniors Jaden Allen, Jackson Schneider, Daniel Weiss); our team is very talented, and I feel like we move the ball well with good serves in the box, which has been huge and just finishing,” sophomore Charlo Tomasso said.
They had to persevere at Gates Chili in the next-to-last regular season game as the teams remained scoreless through 60 minutes due to several glorious saves by the Gates Chili goalkeeper and three Rangers goals called back for offside.
But Weiss and sophomore Luke Oakden scored three minutes apart to give the Rangers their 11th win of the season. For Weiss, it was his team-leading seventh goal of the season. Senior goalkeeper Dylan Cook registered the Rangers’ tenth shutout of the campaign.
“We started slow, but I feel like we picked it up and I knew that we kept getting chances…so coach just said at half to keep going, and we did and ended up with the win,” Tomasso said.
Other recent goal scorers include seniors Schneider (leading the team with eight assists and 20 points), Christian Arcara, and Michael Schmidt-Tieu-Truong, along with sophomores Adriano Sanfilippo and Patrick Geiger.
The back line is anchored by seniors Allen and Patrick Keady with junior Trevor Mallon and sophomore Anthony Muscarella.
“The chemistry is outstanding this year; they’re a very tight group, they work hard for each other, and it’s been a fun team to be around,” Spencerport head coach Jody Wyant said.
With one game remaining before the playoffs, the Rangers are on a streak of outscoring their opponents in October games 14-2.
The Section V playoffs begin next week. Both the Rangers and Churchville-Chili suffered their only losses against Brighton and have met head-to-head twice, with both games finishing tied 0-0. With one game remaining in the regular season for each, it may come down to a coin flip to determine the top seed in Class AA.
A potential third meeting this season could come in the Class AA finals, with both teams seeking their first head-to-head goal.
“It could either come down to one team getting one, or it could end up in PKs (penalty kicks) at some point,” Wyant said.
“We have a fast group with chemistry, and they’re very technical. We have a solid group from top to bottom, so it’s tough fighting for playing time.”
The Rangers are hoping to add to their brick collection with their last title coming in 2024.
