West Canaan
No matter what it was, something was off after halftime. The Royals, after building a 3-0 lead in the first 40 minutes, looked like a different team after the half, surrendering two quick goals on defensive lapses to cut their lead to one.
Last year’s Mascoma team would have had a tough time finding its way back into the game, Royals second year head coach Ryan Limero said. Three-goal leads are difficult to hold on to in high school soccer; it’s too tempting to sit back and run out the clock.
The difference this year, it seems, is a sense of self-awareness, giving Mascoma the ability to recognize when a little extra juice is called for.
“Having that 3-0 lead, it’s just tough to keep them motivated,” Limero said. “That next goal is huge. It takes us a while to wake up. I’m glad they held their composure. In the past, we lose that game. … We had a lot of games like this last year that just didn’t go our way.”
For the last several years, Mascoma has had to learn those tough lessons the hard way. The Royals were 3-13 last season, missing the playoffs in Limero’s first year at the helm.
“It was definitely tough,” Royals senior striker Tucker Stenger said. “It was frustrating through the first three years. Freshman year, there wasn’t much expected of us; sophomore year, they said, ‘All right, this is definitely a rebuilding year.’ Last year, we thought it was going to be a good year. It just didn’t happen.”
A year later, Mascoma is ready to make sure it doesn’t make the same mistakes. Stenger punched in the insurance goal, his second of the game, in the 77th minute to end Newfound’s momentum and secure the victory.
The Royals are 2-1-1 through their first four games. The team is largely the same as last year, Stenger said after the game, but the camaraderie around the program has translated onto the field.
“It’s the bond between this team,” Stenger said. “It’s like we have a family connection. Most of these guys have played all year round through winter and summer. It’s just carrying over. It’s paying off.
“That bond wasn’t around last year; I don’t know why,” he added. “But it’s like a second family. It’s nice.”
For Limero, the biggest difference between this year and last year has been confidence. Head-coaching consistency has helped, the feeling-out period between coach and team has come and gone. But with much of his team staying committed to soccer through the offseason, it was hard for Limero not to dream of the possibilities that this year’s roster promised.
“I think it’s really good that they’re meshing,” Limero said. “It’s all upperclassmen, juniors and seniors that are playing together. They’re focused; they have that mentality that they know they can win. They know they can win. It’s just that confidence. Practices are more amped up. I think they’re more focused this year. They’re taking it seriously.”
It also helps that his team seems to be firing on all cylinders offensively early on. Mascoma has racked up 15 goals in four games, including four from Stenger, three from midfielder Cameron Holmes and two from midfielder Alex Schwarz.
James Disbrow added his name to the list with two first-half goals for the Royals, including the opener in the 17th minute. Stenger doubled the advantage four minutes later as Royals midfielder Dartangnan Collins found the Mascoma striker in stride on a long pass up the middle for the easy tally. Disbrow scored his second of the game just before halftime off a corner kick from Collins that he headed just inside the far post.
Newfound scored twice within seven minutes to give the Royals a scare, both from the Bears’ Jarrod Fairbank.
Royals goalkeeper Hunter Whyte made five saves in goal, including one on a penalty kick awarded to Fairbank just after the half. But Stenger’s goal, a shot inside the left post from just inside the 18, sealed the deal.
Mascoma’s early-season success can be categorized as a carryover from a successful summer soccer season, one of their best in recent memory. Limero said there were several moments over the summer where he realized just how good this season could be.
The prolonged exposure to the sport over the summer gave Limero a better idea of his roster and his athletes an early re-introduction to soccer. Not that the summer program is anything new; it’s just that it might have finally started to pay dividends.
“I just feel like we can put it all together this year. I really feel like we were so close last year,” Limero said. “I think we’re just more of a team. Everyone knows their spot; they know what they have to do. Having that confidence is huge.”
Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.