One hallmark of a competitive team is its ability to rise to a challenge no matter how steep the odds. The Rye boys soccer team gave the rest of Section 1 a taste of exactly what it is capable of on Sept. 19, when a short-handed Garnet group headed to Eastchester to take on their league foes and orchestrated a thrilling come-from-behind victory to author a much-needed 2-1 win over the Eagles.

It was a statement win of sorts, one that not only spoke to Rye’s depth, but also its ability to bounce back from a humbling defeat. 

Coming into Thursday’s game, the Garnets were still smarting from a 6-0 loss to Tappan Zee—their first defeat of the year—and were without the services of a number of starting players as well as head coach Jared Small. 

It made little difference, however, as the Garnets still managed to summon enough to top the reigning Section 1 Class AA  co-champion. 

Rye Captain Kaden Zion said that the Tappan Zee loss served as something of a wakeup call for the Garnets, and that he and his teammates came into their tilt with the Eagles simply unwilling to lose. 

“I think it just shows the way our team can fight through adversity,” said Zion. “Without our coach, without multiple starters, coming off a 6-0 loss, we came in knowing what we had to do and we did it.”

Of course, it wasn’t quite that easy for the Garnets. Despite controlling the action early on, Rye fell behind 1-0 when a penalty in the box led to a goal by Eastchester’s Jack Bochenski. But Zion was able to get the equalizer before the end of the first half, setting up a back-and-forth final 40 minutes that showed why both teams came into the year as contenders for a Section 1 crown. 

Freshman Felix Wismer would come up huge for the Garnets, getting the game-winner with just 2:30 left in regulation as a Rye rode a big defensive stop and streaked down the field on a counter that would put the game away. 

“Before that play, our coach called it and said I was scoring back-post, top corner and I did,” said Wismer. “It was amazing.”

Zion also noted that the goal was only made possible because of an inspired Garnet effort on the defensive end led by Rye keeper Ayden Breen, who finished with three saves on the day and stood tall when it mattered. 

“It just shows you who we are, we don’t give up, even with the ball down in our end,” said Zion.    “We don’t give up, even when we’re on the back foot sometimes, and our mentality just stayed the same; win every ball.”

With the loss, Eastchester fell to 2-3-1, while the Garnets improved to 5-1. Rye will be back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 24—after press time—when they take on Byram Hills (5-0-2). 

“Obviously Eastchester is a great team and we are hoping to ride this momentum as we take on the rest of the league,” said Zion. “We have a lot of good teams we have to play and a game like this prepares us well.”