Nashua Telegraph: Rivier Men's Soccer Team Progressing

By TOM KING
Staff Writer

It's been a long process, but the Rivier University men's soccer team is making strides.

The Raiders (3-4-1), made up of a good mix of young players and upper classmen, have held their own in most games, and in his fifth season, head coach Bill Lawler along with assistant Greg Phillips are working a formula that looks good for the future, and can hold its own for the present.

"It's the best team I've had since I've been here," Raiders head coach Bill Lawler said. "We've got more depth than I've ever had here. We've had some seniors that have been through it, and good leadership throughout the senior class."

"We have a lot of freshman (nine) and a lot of seniors (seven)," said Phillips, a Daniel Webster alum and former Billerica High School head coach. "The seniors are really stepping up. They want to do something with the freshmen coming in. They've worked their butts off. So it's a good mix of young and old."

Lawler says the guidance the team is getting from senior captains Alex Armstrong and Jerry Krahn on the field, and injured goalie Gary Archambault (shoulder, out for the year) off it, have helped.

The Raiders are looking for scoring, as is everyone, including their rival DWC team across town. They need goals. Lynn, Mass., senior Mike Russo leads the Rivier in goals with four, followed by three from Armstrong, also a senior. Both lead the team in shots taken with 19.

"It starts with the passing," Lawler said. "If we can be more consistent, add a layer of quality with our passing, the goals will come. If we were passing better, we might be 5-2 right now."

Defensively, freshman goalie Collin Deyarmin of Raymond, who was heavily recruited by both Rivier and DWC and has 57 saves (.886 percentage) on the year.

"He's played well," Lawler said. "He came from a good program and it's not easy for a freshman to run the back line but he's done a good job of it."

Milford's Chris Pervere is also expected to see some time in net. In front of Deyarmin, senior midfielder Kyle Gambeski has also been an anchor.

"We're just trying to put it all together," Lawler said.