Old Rochester Bulldogs soccer defeated, but not down
Grady Oliveira and Jack Thompson get the ball down the field. Photos by Mari Huglin 
Tucker Cook handling the ball. 
Sebastian Romig and Keegan Somers hustle. 
Grady Oliveira maneuvers around a defender. 
Tyler Porto winds up to send a ball down field. 
Tucker Cook follows the ball as it heads out of bounds. 
The starting lineup huddles before kickoff. 
Captains Noah Thorell and Tyler Porto speak to Coach Mike Devoll before the game.
Captain Noah Thorell waits for a play to begin. 
Brendan Foster pivots to defense. 
Tyler Porto handles the ball. 
Jack Thompson dribbles the ball. 
Garrett Ignacio pushes through two defenders. 
Tyler Porto watches the field with a nearby defender. 
Garrett Ignacio takes the ball.
Grady Oliveira and Jack Thompson get the ball down the field. Photos by Mari Huglin
Tucker Cook handling the ball.
Sebastian Romig and Keegan Somers hustle.
Grady Oliveira maneuvers around a defender.
Tyler Porto winds up to send a ball down field.
Tucker Cook follows the ball as it heads out of bounds.
The starting lineup huddles before kickoff.
Captains Noah Thorell and Tyler Porto speak to Coach Mike Devoll before the game.
Captain Noah Thorell waits for a play to begin.
Brendan Foster pivots to defense.
Tyler Porto handles the ball.
Jack Thompson dribbles the ball.
Garrett Ignacio pushes through two defenders.
Tyler Porto watches the field with a nearby defender.
Garrett Ignacio takes the ball.
With a strong preseason, the Old Rochester Regional’s boys varsity soccer team is hungry for wins, even after Friday's loss.
Friday, Sept. 12 the Bulldogs lost 0-5 to New Bedford High School.
Noah Thorell, a senior captain and center back, is eager to show how far his team can go.
“Losing a lot of seniors gives us a lot to prove and so I think we're very motivated to prove to people that we're good,” said Thorell.
Head coach Mike Devoll is confident with the make-up of this year’s crew, many returning.
With more experienced players, the team is “very functional” and “knows each other's strengths and weaknesses,” Devoll said.
Sebastian Romig, senior captain and midfielder, is confident, but feels a heavy responsibility.
“The hardest part is lifting the team when we're not doing so good. But you get over it and you just do it,” said Romig.
The Bulldogs play in the blue division of the South Coast conference, made up of bigger and stronger competition.
The New Bedford Whalers are in a different division, but Devoll likes to seek out challenging opponents even if it's a non-league game.
Devoll explained that they always set two goals, “to play at the top of our conference” and then “do some damage in the state tournament.”
Tyler Porto, senior captain and center back, looks to build this group into a family.
“I take pride in having this responsibility. I like leading, I like taking charge of my team.”
Owen Harrington, a junior goalkeeper new to varsity, is excited for what the season holds.
He looks to make as many shutouts as he can while bringing the boys together as one of the most vocal players on the field.
Even with Friday’s loss, the Bulldogs still look forward to their long season ahead.
“I just enjoy playing the game. It doesn't really matter who I'm with.” Porto continued, “Even though playing with my friends makes it better, I just enjoy playing with them.”
Catch the Bulldogs next game at home Monday, Sept. 15, starting at 3:45 p.m. against Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School.
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