Orford
Thatcher, the program’s 46-year coach who stepped down earlier this year as athletic director, will guide the top-seeded Raptors against second-seeded Long Trail (14-2-1) in Saturday’s Division IV championship at Randolph High.
Wearing a baseball cap with the world “Relax” stitched on the front, Thatcher was just that shortly after the final horn, calmly discussing a step that’s eluded Rivendell despite semifinals appearances in 2010, 2012 and 2013. Thatcher said, to his recollection, no teams from Orford High, Rivendell’s predecessor, had reached a boys soccer final, and an examination of the VPA and NHIAA websites appear to bear him out.
“Everything’s just fallen into place for us this year,” said Thatcher, whose side was lifted by Owen Pelletier’s 33rd-minute goal. “I knew three days in preseason training that this was a special team by the way they went at it. Hard and intense, but with a lot of love.
“It’s very seldom any one of them points a finger of blame at anyone else.”
Rivendell (15-1-1), however, could point to a bushel basket’s worth of scoring chances that went awry. The Raptors shot balls over the crossbar, off a post and right at Golden Horde goalkeeper Kyle Laughlin.
Upfield rushes were undone by players simply dribbling out of bounds or by crosses just banged in the general direction of the penalty area, allowing Laughlin to pluck them out of midair.
“It should have been a multi-score lead,” said Pelletier, whose team was credited with a 31-10 shot advantage by the home scorekeeping crew.
The tall and lanky senior’s tally held up, however, thanks to the hosts controlling much of the first half and virtually all the second. Rivendell goalkeeper Dashiel Fukushima had to make three saves and there were several goalmouth scrambles that unnerved a vocal Raptors gathering, but fifth-seeded West Rutland (12-5) was clearly outplayed.
Pelletier nearly didn’t play at all this season. Heck, he hadn’t laced up futbol boots since sixth grade and had been a member of Oxbow High’s football team the previous three years. However, when it became apparent the Olympians’ varsity gridiron program likely would be sidelined for the fall, Pelletier asked Thatcher if he could join his squad.
“I told him no, it was too late,” the coach recalled, tongue-in-cheek. “He needs some work on his footwork, but he’s a real athlete and a finisher.”
Rivendell took two corner kicks shortly before Tuesday’s tally. By the time Charlie Bradley collected a loose ball after the second one and launched what amounted to the Raptors’ third cross into the box from the right side in less than a minute, the Golden Horde was a bit disorganized defensively. Pelletier made a run into the middle and volleyed the feed home with his right foot.
“They started to loosen up, and I realized the ball was going to be there,” Pelletier said. “It came right to my foot, and I tapped it in.”
Thatcher shared a postgame kiss from Nancy, his wife of 39 years. He had planned to also retire from coaching after last school year, but she insisted that he remain in the game until he was truly ready to exit.
“I told her I didn’t know when that would be, but she said that was all right,” Thatcher said. “She wanted to know that the decision wasn’t made under pressure.”
Mrs. Thatcher and the Raptor rooters have at least one more game with their main man. A state title could be a crowning achievement for all involved.
Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com or 603-727-3227.