With fall sports officially coming to an end, I would like to highlight one of the best teams of the season – our boys’ soccer team.
The previous year’s undefeated season set very high expectations for the team, and boy, did they fulfill them. Coming into the season, the team’s roster contained 10 returning seniors.
They started their season strong with a 1-0 victory over Cushing Academy (who are in a higher division) in their preseason. They went on to go undefeated until they lost at Bromfield, whom they beat earlier in the season.
From there, they went on to win the remaining regular-season games and were crowned back-to-back league champs.
Next came the Class B Central Mass Tournament. Oakmont swept the tournament for the second year in a row and checked off another goal on the team’s list.
The only thing left was the state tournament. Seeded #1 Oakmont had a home-field advantage until the semi-finals, which gave the community a chance to come to Herd Field and cheer on the team. Oakmont started with a bye and went on to beat Auburn 2-0. Next, they beat Holliston 3-1. Shoutout to Mike Yoder for hyping the crowd up during that game, helping them push through from a 1 goal deficit and secure the win.
Advancing on, they beat Dover-Sherborn 2-0 to secure a spot in the top 4. Their next match would be personal. The previous year, they were eliminated by Pembroke in the first round of states, and now they had to play them in the semi-finals.
The game had a rough start, with Pembroke scoring in the first couple of minutes. Later, they scored again off a corner. Oakmont goalie Ben Forbes made some amazing saves. One in particular was a 2-on-none, but he still managed to keep the ball out of the net.
Oakmont rallied and managed to score a goal in the second half, and in the final play of the game, senior center-back Cam Cormier made a drive at the goal where the whole Pembroke defense converged on him.
Unfortunately and controversially, no call was made on the play, and the game ended 2-1 in favor of Pembroke. Despite the bittersweet conclusion to their season, it was still an amazing run.
I was a part of the team, and it was a fantastic experience. I would like to personally thank all the upperclassmen who acted as great role models and made it so enjoyable to be part of the team.
After the season had concluded, I interviewed head coach Lincoln Stiles. Here is what he had to say.
What was your biggest takeaway from this season?
“My biggest takeaway from the season is just how much support we get from so many people from so many different areas. From students coming to games to parent support at the away games to Facebook mentions about the team from old coaches and players that I’ve had, it was great to see our team supported in so many ways.”
Did you expect to make it as far as you did?
“Our expectation at the beginning of the season was to be playing on the final day of the season in the state tournament. We did not reach that goal, but to make it to the Final Four for only the second time in school history was an achievement that the players should be so proud of.”
What was your favorite game that you coached?
“There were so many, but I think coaching in the Central Mass Final for the 2nd year in a row against Douglas, as well as the Sweet 16 game against Holliston at home, were two of my favorites.”
What are your expectations for next year?
“My expectation for next season is to have a group of competitive players that work hard for each other to try and compete at the highest level possible.”
Any other comments or things you would like to say?
“I would just like to thank all those who supported our team throughout the year and a special thanks to the players on the team who worked so hard and accomplished so much throughout the season.”
One of the most influential and valuable players on the team would have to be Gael Vera. He managed to rack up over 100 points (117, to be exact) in his high school career (like 1000 in basketball). He was Oakmont’s main goal scorer and was a vital part of their team.
When asked about the season, Gael said, “This season was the greatest season of not only my life but, the greatest season in Oakmont history. I’ve made memories that will last my whole life with a group of friends that made the journey very enjoyable.”
Their two center backs, Cam Cormier and Travis Rusak, were also essential to the team, as were Ben Forbes, their keeper, Gavin Rollo, and Jake O’Day. Combined, it was tough to score on the Oakmont defense.
The backbone of what made Oakmont so good was their midfield. Captains Kaden Yoder and Liam Mullane, along with sophomore Reyad Magdoul, were the centerpieces of the team. Their skill in the midfield helped keep the game under control and allowed the offense and defense to do their jobs.
Finally, we have the wingers Ben Michalowski, Adam Benhar, Liam Horgan, and Nathanial Hylan. Ben and Adam both used their speed and skill to beat defenders left and right. Liam was a weapon in the box and on corners using his height to get to any ball in the air. Nathaniel Hylan is one of my favorite players to watch. He doesn’t seem to run out of energy and can sprint for 80 minutes straight. With this, on top of his skill and physicality, he was a powerful weapon for the team.
Also, when another player, Alexis Ramirez, was asked about the season, he said, “Everybody kind of had the same positive mindset. We knew that the priority was to win but to also enjoy the moment. We didn’t go all the way, but we earned our respect, and I had a lot of fun.”
To wrap it up, our soccer team had a phenomenal season, and even though they didn’t make it as far as they would have liked, it was still a season to make the whole Oakmont community proud and a memorable experience for everyone that was part of it.
