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10/01/2017 12:00 AMThe Guilford boys’ soccer team came up just one win short of reaching the championship game in the SCC and Class L State tournaments last year. With a deep core of players returning from their nice postseason run, plus a craving to take it one step further, the Indians are in prime position to wet their title appetite this fall.
Guilford finished with a regular season record of 7-5-4 in 2016, after which Head Coach Joe Maher’s club made the SCC Tournament semifinals by defeating Hand. Then in the Class L State Tournament, the Indians beat Bristol Central, Berlin, and RHAM to advance their first state semi since 2011. Guilford took a 3-0 loss to Hand to finish at 11-7-4 overall.
Thus far this year, the Indians have jumped out to an 8-0 start, allowing just three goals, while posting five shutouts in that stretch. This past week, Guilford started out by downing SCC Oronoque Division rival Cheshire by 3-1 final on Sept. 25 to move to 4-0 in the division and seal a spot in the Class L State Tournament. The Indians then knocked rival Hand from the ranks of the unbeatens with a 1-0 win on Sept. 27 to record their eighth victory in as many games.
Coach Maher chalks up his club’s unblemished record to tremendous experience, along with the fact that the boys are clicking on all cylinders both on and off the pitch.
“We have a team that is pretty experienced. We have a lot of seniors that played as sophomores and juniors and juniors that played a lot as sophomores. We are a junior- and senior-bound team,” said Maher “We have the experience factor, and our team chemistry has been working for us. We also don’t have just one outstanding player. They’re all on the same level. We don’t have one weakness, and all 11 players blend together. When someone is having an off night, another guy can pick him up.”
Senior central defender Ethan Skinner is the lone captain for the Indians in 2017. He returns to the lineup after earning an All-SCC Oronoque Division Team selection a year ago. Maher said that Skinner is a defender who constantly shadows his opponent, while displaying the type of hustle that coaches want everyone emulate.
“He’s an outstanding man-to-man marker. His skill level has improved this year,” Maher said. “He leads by example on and off the field. He knows his role, his limitations, and plays to his strengths. He has a great work rate, and is a blue-collar kid that comes ready to play.”
Junior goalie Ian Slattery is off to a superb start this season after starting in net for the final eight games last year. In the midfield, Guilford features juniors Braden Stephens and Liam O’Brien, as well as seniors John Hess, Justin O’Leary, and Tom Mitzelfelt. At the forefront of the offensive attack, the Indians’ scoring is streamlined by strikers Mete Yanbul and Eric Lepeak, who are in their junior and senior years, respectively.
“Ian is one of the main reasons we only gave up the two goals in our first six games. He knows the position and dominates the box,” said Maher. “Those five midfielders have logged a number of minutes in their careers. They are sound and experienced. It’s been a while since we’ve had two strikers with the ability to beat players 1-on-1. We’re a balanced team and a team you can’t cheat on. I’m pleased with the team so far. The guys are playing to their potential, and they are an unselfish team to the point where we are overpassing in some cases.”
In last week’s win against Cheshire, Guilford’s goals were by Lepeak, Yanbul on a penalty kick, and O’Leary on an Ellis Riccio assist. Slattery made two stops for the Indians, who took nine shots on goal. Coming out of halftime up 1-0, Guilford scored on Yanbul’s PK and then a nice run from O’Leary in a three-minute span to make it 3-0. Cheshire fired back just 15 seconds later, but Guilford’s defense stood tall to hold on for the victory.
Lepeak scored the game’s only goal when the Indians defeated Hand, with Slattery making four saves for the shutout. There were only seven shots on goal in the game, and a defensive first period had the contest scoreless at halftime. Lepeak netted the winner in the second half by converting a point-blank opportunity at his feet.
The Indians still have several big tests on their schedule before they can start thinking too much about the postseason. Still, Coach Maher feels that his team has the proper combination of attributes to put itself back in the championship mix.
“The kids and the coaching staff came into this year knowing we’d be a solid team and a tough out. I didn’t think we’d start [8-0] and be in the position we’re in now,” Maher said. “Our goal is to get back into the mix for the SCC and State tournaments. We would also love to get back to the semifinals and win. We want to hopefully take the next step.”
From the Sidelines
Joe Maher is now in his 24th year as head coach of the Indians’ boys’ soccer squad
Jeff Sullivan and Curtis Gullette are the assistant coaches for Guilford this fall.
The Indians are again in the SCC Oronoque Division East Haven, Cross, Notre Dame-West Haven, and Cheshire. Guilford is 4-0 in divisional play thus far.