RICHMOND — Richmond High School boys soccer coach Peter Gardner knew coming into this season that he would have to count on some freshmen to contribute in order to fill out his team’s rotation.
Nick Adams did not wait long to get the memo.
Adams, a freshman, scored a pair of first-half goals Saturday afternoon to help the Bobcats score a 6-0 win over Rangeley. It was the 19th consecutive victory for the defending Class D champions, who also got solid contributions from freshmen Dan Stewart, Mitch Couturier and Ford Strout.
“We don’t have a choice, they have to (contribute),” Gardner said. “If they don’t do that, then that’s where we’ll suffer.
“They’ll do it. It’s been put out there, they can see it.”
While the freshmen will be counted on to contribute, Richmond’s veteran players will still be expected to do the heavy lifting and senior Curtis Anderson made sure to set the tone.
In the 12th minute, Brendan Emmons fired a shot on Rangeley goalkeeper Hunter Lowell, but Anderson was in perfect position to clean up the rebound along the left post. Ten minutes later, Adams netted a pair of goals within a three-minute span with assists going to Emmons and Matt Rines, respectively, to give the Bobcats a 3-0 advantage at the break.
“We played really good,” Anderson said. “We’re definitely making more communication, working harder.”
Richmond left little doubt of the contest’s outcome in the second half, as Cody Tribbet buried a goal in the 43rd minute following a failed clear from Rangeley. Rines then headed one in three minutes later off an Emmons cross, while Zach Marseglia rounded out the scoring in the 50th minute off a Nate Vintinner assist.
While Gardner was ultimately satisfied with the win, he felt his team still has more work left to do in order to defend its title.
“It’s got some sloppiness to it but I think it has a good foundation to start with,” Gardner said. “The biggest thing for us is we don’t have the depth that we’ve had in the past so that’s a big issue.
“That means we’ve got to work real hard on most pieces. I think we’ll be alright. I think they want to play hard. I haven’t had a problem with their efforts and stuff, so I’m pretty pleased so far.”
Evan Crawley — 621-5640
ecrawley@mainetoday.com
Twitter: @Evan_Crawley
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