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HARRISON, N.Y. -- Four games into the Harrison boys varsity soccer season, the Huskies were winless and had only one goal.
Harrison coach Matt Pringle decided it was time for a change in the offensive approach - a decision embraced by the players. The result has been back-to-back victories, including a 4-0 triumph over Rye in a Section 1 Class A game Monday.
Ryo Inkyo had a hat trick against Rye making it consecutive three-goal games for the senior forward. Erik Johansen added a goal and two assists. Harrison had earlier defeated Westlake 3-1 to snap its four-game losing streak.
We knew we had to step it up and we wanted to go back to playing our game, Inkyo said. We were playing kick the ball and run. Now we are possessing the ball, distributing the ball and everyone is playing together.
The Huskies demonstrated this, especially Inkyo and Erik Johnansen. Johansen assisted on two of Inkyos goals and Inkyo returned the favor on Johansens score. Inkyo initiated a three-goal first half, converting a penalty kick seven and a half minutes into the game.
We scored a quick goal against Westlake and that just got us all psyched up, Inkyo said. When you get that quick goal, like we did again tonight, it gets everyones energy up even more and makes you want to push harder and harder.
Inkyo has been pushing hard since day one of practice after missing his junior year because of a torn labrum.
This feels great, said Inkyo of the win over Harrisons archrival. I love playing soccer with my teammates. This was a total team effort.
Rye coach Jared Small credited Harrison with playing a solid all-around game. Small will now prepare his team for games against Port Chester (Thursday) and Byram Hills (Saturday). Both teams advanced to the Section 1 Class A final four last year.
Harrison outplayed us in every aspect of the game, Small said. Number four (Inkyo) and number 10 (Johansen) were phenomenal and at the top of their game.
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