By PAUL GOTHAM
BRIGHTON, N.Y. — Spencerport Boys’ Soccer hasn’t skipped a beat.
One year after ending a decade-old sectional championship drought and advancing to the state semifinals for the first time in more than 40 years, the Rangers look ready to make a run at another title.
This despite graduating a handful of key players and losing a returning starter to injury.
Kyle Milburn and Ryan Peacock collected a goal apiece as Spencerport defeated host Brighton, 2-0 in Monroe County Division II action, Tuesday.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM RON ANDREWS.
“A lot of good practices,” Milburn said. “We’re really together on this team. It’s positive energy. That’s mainly what it is. A lot of positive energy from this team. We’re always picking each other up.”
Milburn started the scoring when he converted a free kick from 25 yards out.
“It felt good off the foot and felt good in the back of the net,” said the senior forward who became the program’s all-time leading scorer last season. “I wasn’t always the one taking free kicks. I put in a lot of practice in the off-season.”
17’ Kyle Milburn converts from 20 yards out to give @RangersBSoccer a 1-nil lead. @SecVBoysSoccer pic.twitter.com/F2jky9yAf5
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 12, 2023
Peacock doubled the advantage in the 35th minute when Sam Robertson came off his line to make a save. Peacock lofted a shot over the Brighton keeper’s head for his first varsity goal.
“I heard my teammates yelling for me to shoot,” Peacock said. “Coach told me if he (the keeper) comes off his line, try and put it over him. That’s what I did. It worked.”
Cam Khuns picked up an assist on the play.
“Peacock was a good player last year, but it was hard to get him on the field because of some of the guys who were playing ahead of him,” explained fifth-year head coach Jody Wyant. “Same with Cam Khuns. “They put in a lot of work in the offseason. We had meetings with each guy and told them what they could do. Those guys took it to heart and really came in ready to go this fall. It’s worked well for us.”
Spencerport improved to 4-0 with the win. A year ago, the Rangers opened with two losses in their first four games and were 5-3-1 at one point. That team suffered a 1-nil setback to Churchville-Chili on October 2nd before rattling off nine straight wins to claim the NYS Class A Far West Regional.
The current squad has outscored opponents by a combined total of 9-4.
“It was the work they got done in the off-season,” Wyant said. “They’ve played together, this senior group and some of the juniors, for a long time now coming up through the Spencerport soccer program. They have chemistry. They know what each other can do.”
Jack Distaffen made three saves for a shutout – the first clean of the season. The senior keeper wasn’t tested until the closing 10 minutes. Leading up to that, Spencerport dictated much of the play.
“We watched on film that we could swing it and play it diagonal ball to weak-side, outside back,” Wyant said. “There’s a lot space there usually. We wanted to take advantage of that.
“What we’ve advocated with the boys all year is patience. It doesn’t have to come in the first 10 minutes or the first five minutes. Be patient and swing the ball around.”
Spencerport’s Justice Hinman was not in the lineup on Tuesday. The senior forward has yet to play this year because of an injury. He accounted for 13 goals and 5 assists in 2022. He is expected back in the next few weeks.
Brighton was without senior midfielder Clay Arnold who has two goals and two assists thus far.
Spencerport will host Churchville-Chili on Thursday for a 7 PM start time.
Brighton (1-4) travels to play at Irondequoit. That game is also a & PM kickoff.
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