Rhinebeck aims for 2nd state championship
Five years after state title, Rhinebeck boys eye another championship
The Rhinebeck boys soccer team faces Section 2’s Voorheesville at 11 a.m. Saturday in a Class C state semifinal match at Faller Field at Middletown High.
It’s the Hawks’ first trip to the state tournament since 2014, when they won the Class C state title.
If Rhinebeck (19-0-1) wins Saturday, they’ll return to Faller Field to face either Section 4’s Lansing or Section 5’s Keshequa in the state final at 10:30 a.m Sunday.
The Hawks punched their ticket to the state tournament by downing Alexander Hamilton 1-0 last Saturday. Noah Lortie’s goal in the second minute made the difference for Rhinebeck.
“It feels great to make it past the regional semifinal round where we came up short in each of the past two seasons,” Hawks coach Justin Wiesenthal said.
“They certainly felt they were ready to take that next step,” Wiesenthal said. “They put together a really great season with lots of special moments.”
A sixth grade social studies teacher, Wiesenthal is in his 14th year as the Rhinebeck boys coach.
“The guys are really excited,”
Wiesenthal said. “The coaching staff is obviously thrilled and you can definitely see it in the community as well.”
On a recent afternoon, Wiesenthal and his players were forced inside the Bulkeley Middle School gymnasium by an early winter storm that dropped a light coating of snow on the Hawks’ field.
“With 24 guys in the gym, it’s tough just getting as many touches on the ball as we can rotating through quickly,” Wiesenthal said. “It’s really about keeping the camaraderie together, it’s just kind of coming back together and getting some fitness in.”
He added that they know a few things about Voorheesville, but it hasn’t changed their preparation much.
“There are four teams left, everyone is pretty even I would say, but we’re going to treat each team like it’s the best team we’ve seen,” Wiesenthal said.
Wiesenthal said this Rhinebeck side is comprised of a group of players who have been together for a long time with a few seniors.
“They did really well in the league, and then again in Sectionals, and they were able to pull through in a regional final to get a chance to go back to states,” Wiesenthal said.
Rhinebeck handed Mid-Hudson Athletic League newcomers Mount Academy — which faces Chazy in Saturday’s other Class D state semifinal match — their only two defeats of the season.
Wiesenthal said the victories over the Eagles, a 2-0 shutout in the MHAL semifinals and a 2-1 win in the regular season, and beating Wallkill to claim their first MHAL championship in several years served as good warmups for regional and state play.
“Our defense has been playing pretty well,” Wiesenthal said. “We’ve been able to finish some of our opportunities and everyone seems to be pretty healthy.”
He added he’s only needed to make minor tweaks after each match throughout this season.
Wiesenthal said while his key players include senior defender Colin Murray, and midfielders Gideon Rothschild, a senior, and a Johnny Lange, a junior, he can count on all 11 players at all times.
“If someone’s coming off the bench, we depend on that player,” Wiesenthal said. “This is a great team, they really work well together and we try not to rely on one person.”
Looking back on the season, Murray recalled how he bounced back from an own goal in a contest between Rhinebeck and Roosevelt.
“It’s hard mentally. I just have to do everything in my power to block it out,” Murray said. He added he doesn’t want any goals scored against the Hawks to get to him.
“If I can just block that out and do what I know what to do then I think we’ll be alright,” Murray said.
Lange said he’s dreamed of reaching states since he started playing school soccer.
“Seeing them win states when I was in sixth grade made me realize it’s a big deal, and it’d be really cool if we could pull it off,” Lange said. “From day one in training camp we’ve set the bar high, and we’re just so excited it’s finally here. We go into every game with the same mentality; we don’t care who we’re playing.”