The #1 Rye Boys Soccer team defeated Pelham for the second consecutive year in the Section 1, Class B playoffs, ousting the Pelicans by a 6-0 score on Friday, October 24. The Garnets weathered a minor push from Pelham at the very start of the game, and never looked back after taking the lead in the 31st minute.
“Fantastic performance from the lads,” Head Coach Jared Small told MyRye.com. “We had a strong week of training, and after getting some nerves out in the first five minutes, we got into a nice groove.
Kaen Scarperi drew first blood after a stretch of Rye pressure finally paid off, a header finish assisted by Harrison Zimmer. Scarperi scored again a few minutes later, off a feed from Felix Wismer, who would also find the back of the net before halftime. In the final 40 minutes, Rye scored three more – Eddie Kehoe (his second in three games), Connor Dehmer (his team-leading 14th), and Alex Dodge Terra, whose tally with eight seconds remaining was a highlight-reel tally featuring crafty dribbling and a precise strike.
“The first goal was of course the hardest to come by, but once we got the lead we never looked back,” Small said. “It’s always a good thing when we put up a clean sheet in a playoff match and have five different goal scorers…. Dodge Terra converted one of the most memorable goals of the season.”
While the offense soared, the defense quietly put up a donut in the drama-free win. William Alexander and Owen Karl split the clean sheet in goal, with neither asked to do anything extraordinary. “Christian Hoffman was particularly instrumental in locking down the backline,” Small continued. “Midfielder James Hayashi also put in one of his strongest performances of the season, playing with pace and intensity on the right wing.”
William Christiansson Molin was a part of the back line too, notable because he is fresh off completing his exams for the Swedish military, which he plans to pursue after graduation. More important matters at hand first, though.
#1 Rye hosts #9 Byram Hills in their second-round matchup at Nugent Stadium on Monday, October 27. Game time is scheduled for 7:00pm against the Bobcats, a perennial thorn in Rye’s side. The Garnets will enter the contest at 13-1-2, although their 1-0 record in the postseason is all that matters now. It is worth noting, however, that the only defeat the Garnets have suffered the entire year was to Byram Hills on September 10, 2025.
Replay the Round of 16 win over Pelham here.
