Whitcomb Guy Hornets Hope To Repeat Their #1 Standing
By Laurie-Jean B. Gauthier

DEFENSE The Whitcomb boys soccer team scrimmaged Williamstown and West Rutland Saturday and won both. Pictured above are goalie Scott Karlan and Joe Kill, in the light shirt, playing defense. (Herald photo / Joyce Hunt)

The Whitcomb Hornets ended last year’s season #1 and they would like to keep it that way. Seeded #2, Whitcomb ended the 2005-2006 season with an upset 1-0 shutout victory over the #1 seeded United Christian Academy Crusaders to claim the D-IV Vermont State Soccer Championship and ended the season with a 16-1 record. Unfortunately with the win came the loss of nine seniors to graduation. Gone are Andrew Wright, Mike Wood, Teddy Mills, Tom Gauthier, Andrew Durfee, Ryan Barrows, Derek Aldrighetti, Tim Aldrighetti and manager Daniel Luttrel. Also gone is four year coach Wade Floyd.

Former Assistant coach Aaron Isham will assume the head coaching position. A 2003 Whitcomb Graduate, as well as a three sport/four year starter and member of the 2000 State Championship soccer team, Isham bring both knowledge and skill to the field.

Back again for their fourth and final season are seniors, goalie Scott Killian who did a superb job keeping the nets empty; Cody Griffin who anchors the defense in the sweeper position, and Brian Ward and Joe Kill, both forwards. Next are juniors Ryan Litchfield, a deadly opponent at halfback and Evan Abbott at forward. Deven Hill rejoins the team after a year off and plays defense. Returning sophomores Chris Kerr-Ayer and Adam Sennett play from the halfback and forward positions respectively.

New to the squad are senior Nathan Tipton and halfback and junior Tyler Killian who will play the stopper position, and freshmen Joel Wright, a fullback and Peter Burgess a halfback.

Let’s hope that "13" is a lucky number for the freshman coach and his team. Whitcomb travels to Rochester for the first game of the season on Wednesday, Sept.6.

Scrimmage Action

On Tuesday, Aug. 22 the Hornets welcomed the Black River Presidents to Bethel for a pre-season scrimmage that was a 1-1 tie. Whitcomb followed that with their three-school soccer scrimmage jamboree held annually at the Matthew Reeves Memorial Fields on Saturday, Aug. 26. Whitcomb hosted the Williamstown Blue Devils and the West Rutland Golden Horde and notched two wins, both shutouts in the pre-season action.

Whitcomb’s Joe Kill scored when he literally walked the rolling orb into the nets off a pass by Adam Sennett who earned the assist in the 1-0 game. Brian Ward scored two goals, one he dribbled in unassisted and the other one came off an assist from Joe Kill. Scott Killian scored an unassisted goal in the 3-0 game.

The Hornets open the season next Wednesday against the Rockets in Rochester.

____________