Rochester Boys Build
To 7-2 Record

Playing simply marvelous soccer, the Rochester boys wrapped up September with three dominating performances in succession, building an impressive 7-2 record in the process. With five games remaining, Zeus Lary’s squad has a strong shot at reaching double-digits in wins, and earning a top-four seeding in the Division IV tournament.

Undoubtedly, the new CVL schedule has aided this team tremendously. The Rockets clobbered a weak Canaan club 7-0, for example, while an afternoon fending off powerful Thetford is not in the cards this fall. But give these boys credit, they humbled Blue Mt. 4-1, allowing only a freakish goal, and crashed Craftsbury 3-0 on the road.

Moreover, the tone of these games has been most decisive. The defense had posted four shut-outs in the last five games going into yesterday’s tilt with Chelsea. The midfielders and front-line players seem to have the ball practically all game long. Possession is a key element in soccer, and Rochester is thriving in terms of both quality and quantity in that area. It has only been the offense’s patience in waiting for high percentage shots that has kept the recent scores somewhat respectable.

Captains Dane Lary (center midfield) and Josh Rhoades (sweeper) team with striker John Sabau to form a top-notch group patrolling the center of the pitch, and they are in control of the tempo most days this season. Each of these boys has displayed impeccable leadership in working with the players on their wings, sharing the ball while promoting a hustling team concept. Halfbacks Ryder Lary and Mike Farrington are certainly enjoying the game a lot more with Dane in the middle running the show.

Yet Sabau in particular has been remarkable in his work with the entire offense. After posting a hat-trick during the first 15 minutes of the Canaan game, he spent the rest of the afternoon serving as "point striker," dishing out assist to other shooters. He did the same against Blue Mt. and Craftsbury, feeding wing Bryant Harvey for four goals and Dane Lary for two others. The Rockets have always favored a "flag it" style of play, having the wings chase it down in the corner, but Sabau’s recent performances may have Zeus re-thinking his strategy.

Rochester’s surprising depth is also earning the team more and more advantages. With stopper Cody Downs out with injuries, freshman Aaron Trombley and junior Zach LeClair stepped it up and filled in quite effectively. Another freshman, John Gavoury, has two goals already in limited minutes, and halfback Danny Wood’s recent injury was not the crisis-situation it would have been last season.

With all signals "go," the Rockets look forward to hosting another former CVL North team, Concord, on Friday. Two final regular-season tests remain, against South Royalton, on the road, Monday, and a visit to Blue Mt. next Thursday. Rumors have it that Wilmington and UCA are still undefeated, leaving Rochester fighting with Cabot and perhaps Danville for the third and fourth seed in the upcoming tournament.

By George Moltz

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