After playoff knock-outs, Middleboro coaches reflect on season

MIDDLEBORO —Three Middleboro High School teams made it to the playoffs this year, only to be knocked out in their first post-season game. 

Following these losses, Denis Cutler, the girls soccer coach; Ryan Moniz, the boys soccer coach; and Patrick Kingman, the football coach, sat down with Nemasket Week reporter Grace Roche to reflect on their seasons.

Girls Soccer 

Q: How did your team feel about making it to the playoffs and their subsequent loss?

Cutler: It was very exciting for us to make the tournament this year — it's been three years since we've made the tournament. It was nice to also qualify for the tournament prior to the last week of the season, that took the pressure off us going into the final week. 

We obviously went in there with the intention to do the best we could to try to win that game, and we took them to overtime. Even though there was a lot of disappointment in the season ending, it was still an amazing performance against a very talented team for us.

Q: What contributed to the team's success this season?

Cutler: I give a lot of credit to the captains and the upperclassmen this year, to to set the right kind of culture on the team. The team chemistry was great, and I think that it led to winning a lot of games because they stuck together even when things were difficult. 

Q: As you prepare for next season, what worked well this season and what do you plan to change?

Cutler: I really liked the culture we had on the team this year, and I think we can build on that. There'll be two or three new captains on the team,  so working with them to talk about the success we had this year, how the team chemistry added to that and how they as leaders can then help the new players.

That way people are having fun, but also trying to get us as good as we can be as a team. 

Boys Soccer

Q: How did your team feel about making it to the playoffs and their subsequent loss?

Moniz:  They were definitely excited about the opportunity to play another game. We're obviously a very young team, and an inexperienced team. 

You could see that inexperience the first 40 minutes or so, but the second half was a really big turnaround for the first half. I'm definitely very proud of their performance, especially in the last 40. They gave it all when they could have easily given up.

I think because a lot of the underclassmen got to experience a playoff game, they're excited for the future as well. So sadness, obviously, but also some excitement, some hope for the fall, for the years to come.

Q: What was a highlight of the season?

Moniz: I would say the playoff game. Being on the bus, and seeing a lot of their faces — they were focused. They were all so excited, even on the ride back. We had a pretty good time on that bus celebrating some of the success we did have this year.

Q: As you prepare for next season, what worked well this season and what do you plan to change?

Moniz: I don't think we would change anything or do anything differently. What we did this year worked, we had some good results, so I think we would keep it status quo. 

Also switching some of our formations up, or some of our tactics, because next year we're going to be playing a different schedule than we did this year. That will call for, you know some flexibility with our way of playing.

Football

Q: How did your team feel about making it to the playoffs and their subsequent loss?

Kingman: We actually weren't even sure if we were going to get in. We knew we were on the cusp going into the last week of the season. So we felt pretty good getting in. We knew we had a pretty tough road but our kids were excited to play.

You never want to go out there and lose a football game. Our kids, you know, played pretty hard and tough, but some of the mistakes that we've had all year long kind of reared its ugly head again. 

Q: What contributed to the team's success this season?

Kingman: It's just a really good team to be around. They're enjoyable kids, they're nice kids, they come to school and practice every day, they go out there and do things hard. 

I think what made it a success overall is that we found a lot of kids that can play for us and help us in the future. A lot of times you're playing a lot of seniors and the younger kids don't get a lot of experience, but we had a great mix of kids.

Q: What was a highlight of the season?

Kingman: No matter what, week one winning your first game of the year is always huge. We played Apponequet in this cross-town rivalry, that's a big game for both schools.

Q: As you prepare for next season, what worked well this season and what do you plan to change?

Kingman: I think the biggest thing that's worked well is that we've found a way to get a lot of kids in and play a lot of meaningful snaps. It's not everything, but there's no doubt that experience helps you in this game. 

I'm hoping next year to be a little bit more dynamic offensively. We've not been very dynamic and we haven't been able to distribute the ball very well. Losing stinks, and those guys felt that sting a little bit and realized that we need to put a little extra work in to get to the point where they want to be.