Old Rochester boys soccer plans to ‘just keep winning’
MATTAPOISETT — During their game on Monday, Oct. 2, the Old Rochester Regional High School boys varsity soccer team was able to use all 22 players on the roster, according to coach Mike Devoll.
“We want to be able to stay fresh, so we used everybody on the roster,” he said. “I’m glad everybody got in and got to contribute.”
Those players contributed to a 3-0 win against Bourne, bringing the team to four wins, two losses and one tie this season.
“It was good to see some of our younger guys score some goals,” said Devoll. “Garrett Ignacio had his first goal as a high school varsity player.”
Devoll added that this season, after losing graduating seniors, it’s been a good year to “bring up some of the guys from junior varsity.”
He pointed to players like sophomore Ignacio, junior Aidan Eagle and freshman Grady Oliveira as examples of players who are now “ready to contribute.”
“You can graduate kids every year [but] if you have that strong feeder program, the next group can step in,” said Devoll.
However, the team “still relies on [its] senior leaders” like captains John Marmelo, Reilly Garber, Jackson Veugen and George Psichopaidas, he said.
According to Devoll, the leadership coming from the seniors doesn’t stop off the field.
“We do have some younger players on the team,” said Devoll. “So we want some of those older players to be role models in the hallways.”
In his other role as Old Rochester Regional High School principal, Devoll has the chance to help his players in the hallways too.
“It's great that I'm in the buildings … we have meetings during the school day, and we check in and [see] how they’re doing,” he said. “It's a full experience, not just soccer, but as a student athlete. I love that part of my job. After a long day in school, I get to come outside and spend a couple hours with a great group of guys.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Devoll told his team that “it’s not about who we play, it’s about how we play.”
“If we play well we can beat anybody,” he said. “So that’s our goal … just keep winning.”
