Coyotes bounce back from slow start for playoff berth

There was a brief stint at the start of the season when Nipmuc head boys soccer coach Bryan Devenney wasn’t sure what the year would hold for his team. The Coyotes dropped the first two matches of the season after graduating more than 10 seniors from last year’s squad.

But the team came together, rattled off three straight wins to start October, and earned a spot in the state tournament.

“I think I underestimated what losing that many seniors does to a team, when you take so many personalities out of a team and you’re developing younger guys,” Devenney said. “It probably took us the month of September to figure out our identity.”

Since the start of October, Devenney said it’s been fun to see his group come together and show some of its personality.

“It’s always good when you have some characters on a team who make everybody laugh, have a good time, and don't take themselves too seriously,” he said.

But that doesn’t mean Nipmuc isn’t focusing on winning. 

Senior midfielder Zach Duplessis is one of the team’s captains and one of its hardest workers. “He has been throwing himself around the entire season,” Devenney said.

Nipmuc’s other captain, Adam Dubowik, is a steady and consistent player who Devenney said had earned the respect of the rest of the team.

The Coyotes’ office has been boosted this fall by sophomore Ryan McShane. “He has been scoring some beautiful goals,” Devenney said. “The team really clicks around him and looks to see what level he is playing at, and then they try to join him at that level. He is really a special player to watch.”

Vincent Geremia, another senior, is described by his coach as one of the “personalities” on the team. But he also came through with big goals this fall, including a tally that helped Nipmuc pull away from Medway for a late regular season victory.

Nipmuc kicked off November bound for the state tournament, a significant achievement given the uncertainty that hovered over the Coyotes just two short months ago.

“It’s huge, that’s always a goal at the start of the season,” Devenney said. “During those initial games, there was a time when we were concerned about whether or not we’d win any games. To see where they are now has been a great achievement for the boys.”

Zach Duplessis (#4) is a captain and among the team's hardest workers. Courtesy photo