Orford
A season ago, the Raptors topped Long Trail to win the VPA Division IV title, the first state crown in school history. This season, Rivendell (12-2-0) heads into playoffs as the second-ranked team in the division and holds a first-round bye.
Rivendell will have most of the week to prepare. The Raptors don’t play until Friday, when they’ll host the winner of Tuesday’s first-round game between Twinfield and Proctor.
The taste of being a champion lingers from last year. It’s a taste the Raptors don’t want to relinquish.
“I knew entering this season as the D-IV champions that we would have a targets on our chest,” Rivendell coach Bob Thatcher said prior to a Monday practice. “We had targets on our backs, on the backs of our heels. There are a lot of teams coming after us.”
With 14 players returning from last season, confidence and focus is high on a team full of playoff veterans.
“We have so many players who made it (to the championship) last year,” Rivendell captain Zach Gould said. “There is nothing like that feeling, so there is no doubt that everyone on this team wants to go back and experience the same thing.”
Rivendell went 16-1-1 during last year’s championship run. Owen Pelletier led the attack with 29 points and Johnny Vogelien added 19. The Raptors also outscored opponents, 65-10.
This season, Rivendell has found more scoring from a verity of players rather than just a few. Pelletier graduated, leaving Gould to step into the vacancy and lead the team with 16 goals and 20 points during the regular season. Vogelien again finished with 19, including 14 goals. Luke Senn (12 points), A.J. DeBois (11) and Charlie Bradley (10) all reached double figures. The Raptors have outscored opponents 54-18 to date.
At the other end of the field, Rivendell’s defense — anchored by goalkeeper Zach Dexter — posted four shutouts during the regular season.
“Teams have trouble shutting everyone down,” Thatcher said. “We also have plenty of people who can keep the ball out of the net.”
Rivendell captain and defender Max Haehnel is excited for playoffs and simply wants to come out with energy on Friday. But he also wants to take the postseason one game at a time.
“We want to score early and get out in front,” Haehnel said. “I think we just have to be prepared and play hard. If you’re thinking too far ahead, then you’re out before you can pick your head up.”
Thatcher had one final message for his team come playoffs: “Focus.”