The Guilford boys’ soccer team is kicking off the 2022 season by leaving last year’s results in the rearview mirror. Head Coach Curtis Gullette has the Grizzlies focused on this year’s goals as a new squad formed by a mix of fresh faces and experienced players takes the field. Gullette and his athletes are determined to be once again be a powerhouse in the SCC this season.

Guilford opened the new campaign with a highly anticipated matchup at Daniel Hand on Sept. 10. The Grizzlies defeated the Tigers by a 1-0 score on a goal from junior Andres Guiterrez. Senior Tyler Yerkes had the assist on the goal. Senior captain goalkeeper Justin Hess made 5 saves to get the shutout.

During the preseason, Coach Gullette was focused on getting Guilford’s players in the right mindset to start the year on a positive note. The team’s opener against Hand marked the first test of the season, and Gullette knew that it would be an exciting contest. It was a satisfying feeling for the Grizzlies to get the win.

“There is a real buzz around the team as we prepare for this season opener,” Gullette said prior to the game. “In addition to the intensity of a rivalry game and a season opener, Hand has a strong team perennially. The combination of these things makes this game a huge challenge for both teams. We are excited to have experienced returning players to lean on as we kick off the year.”

On the heels of the Hand victory, Guilford is playing a three-game homestand at Kavanaugh Field this week. The Grizzlies have home games against West Haven, Hamden, and Sheehan on the slate.

Last season, Guilford found success with a talented lineup. After winning the SCC Oronoque Division title, the Grizzlies lost to Fairfield Prep in the SCC quarterfinals before winning three games in the Class L State Tournament to make it to the semis, finishing the year with a record of 14-5-2.

While he was pleased with what his team accomplished last year, Coach Gullette wants to keep Guilford’s players focused on each individual game this season. The Grizzlies are taking a “one-game-at-a-time” approach with hopes of making some noises in the playoffs like they did in their last go-round.

“Each year brings a new group of players, a new schedule of teams to play, and a new challenge to focus on,” said Gullette. “We take each day one at a time, trying to improve every time we touch the field.”

Senior captain Justin Hess will once again be leading the Grizzlies from the net this year. Hess served as a captain as a junior last season on his way to earning All-SCC First Team honors. Gullette knows how integral Hess has been to Guilford’s success the past few years, and he feels that the senior captain goalie is bound to be at his best in his final campaign.

“Justin leads both by example and through his voice. The other players respond when they see and hear what he has to offer,” Gullette said of Hess. “He takes an active role in each training session, stopping drills to coach players on ways to improve, strategies to employ, and areas to focus upon. What he brings to the team is invaluable.”

Coach Gullette is also excepting the Grizzlies to receive hefty contributions from senior winger Sami AbuGhazaleh and sophomore midfielder Stephano Jarrin. Both players earned spots on the All-SCC First Team last year and are looking to make further strides as key players on the team this season.

Gullette believes that the experience of Guilford’s senior class will provide guidance and stability for his squad. The Grizzlies’ corps of seniors includes Hess, Yerkes, and AbuGhazaleh, in addition to wingers Sean McSweet and Will Rice, and defenders Luke Ste. Marie, Mark Michna, Joshua Chen, and Colin Lataillade.

Coach Gullette is excited to see the crisp ball movement and shutdown defense that will be provided by his senior defenders, along with junior Jason Li and sophomore Wyatt Sprenkle. In the midfield, Gutierrez, Stephano Jarrin, junior Andrew Jarrin, junior Sergio Garcia-Perez, sophomore Daniel Perez Betancur, and sophomore Evan Arteaga are all lined up to complement the seniors smoothly.

Junior Owen Medvecky is expected to put his cannon of a shot to use as a striker for the Grizzlies this year. Junior Anthony Malatesta is serving as the team’s backup goalkeeper.

Coach Gullette said that Guilford’s athletes enjoyed the time that they got to spend with one another during the preseason. Gullette felt that the preseason was the perfect time for the Grizzlies to begin forming their tight-knit chemistry with a vibrant team atmosphere.

“Early season tryout, practices, scrimmages, and film sessions went well. With many returning players and a strong mix of new players, this time was extremely important for the team to build chemistry and regain a strong sense of focus for the season ahead,” Gullette said. “Every game is so important, so the team is taking a one-game-at-a-time approach to help limit distraction and heighten focus.”

Gullette feels that taking the one-game-at-a-time approach is going to benefit his team. The Grizzlies know that they can’t look ahead to any game that is out of reach from the current task at hand. Coach Gullette believes that Guilford will find success by continually improving and succeeding on a day-by-day basis as the Grizzlies aim to ultimately make their mark in the playoffs this fall.

“Truly, we understand that in the SCC there are no easy games or schedules. That is why we take the one-game-at-a-time approach,” said Gullette. “We expect to be competitive every game and put ourselves in a great position to challenge for our regular-season division title and SCC Tournament title. We also expect to put ourselves in contention to compete for the Class L State Tournament.”