St. Mark's soccer is one win away from historical past for a program that began in 1886 – MetroWest Day by day Information

SOUTHBOROUGH — Ken Goodwin is a modern-day “Porky” Clark. 
The 1975 St. Mark’s Faculty soccer staff remains to be held in excessive regard. The Lions of 50 years in the past went undefeated, the final gridiron squad to take action. What does the present SMS coach have in frequent with ISL legend Alan “Porky” Clark? 
Goodwin and Clark – who coached the ‘75 staff to a 7-0 mark – each went winless of their first seasons. Two years after Goodwin arrived from the school ranks, St. Mark’s is a win away from historical past. 
St. Mark’s, which has performed soccer since 1886, equaled a college file final week after a victory over Groton Faculty within the 124^th assembly of the nation’s oldest impartial faculty rivalry. The 42-8 win put the Lions at 7-1, tying the win complete of Clark’s ‘75 staff. 
SMS has an opportunity so as to add one final win this fall when the Lions play in a bowl recreation for the primary time on Saturday (1 p.m.) after they face Canterbury Faculty within the NEPSAC Joe Lang Bowl in Milford, Conn. 
(A livestream is accessible here).
Goodwin is aware of that if historical past is really to be made, the Lions should defeat Canterbury (6-2).
“That staff in 1975, they didn’t lose a recreation,” he mentioned. “The one manner that we’re going to go down in historical past as probably one of the best staff ever right here is that if we break that file. We have to get that eighth win.” 
A shot at legendary standing just isn’t misplaced on the gamers. 
Seedi Sheriff, a 5-foot-11, 290-pound lineman from Worcester, was on that 0-8 staff two years in the past. The senior captain is headed to Stonehill within the fall, however is aware of {that a} win on Saturday will stick with it effectively previous his faculty years. 
“Having probably the most wins in St. Mark’s historical past can be one thing particular,” mentioned Sheriff, additionally a two-time heavyweight ISL champion wrestler. “In just a few years once I come again, it will be one thing to speak about with this staff being that staff to win the primary bowl recreation.” 
St. Mark’s started its march ahead final 12 months, profitable 5 video games. This season kicked off in opposition to Proctor, the place the Lions led 35-0 at halftime. 
“We by no means performed them earlier than,” Sheriff mentioned. “They appear to be fairly good and we have been in a position to crush them that first week.”   
The Lions then defeated Rivers, 22-0, and received 6-3 over Roxbury Latin on a walk-off area purpose by senior captain Phoenix Whitaker. The staff’s solely loss was to Thayer Academy, which used a 95-yard interception return for a 14-0 win. 
St. Mark’s has allowed simply 69 factors, however that features two returns for touchdowns and 14 factors surrendered late in blowout victories. 
Leominster senior Tanner Martin, a four-year starter, Shrewsbury sophomore Rohan Richards and Alex Echevarria – a senior headed to Trinity to play basketball – are a part of a gifted linebacker group. 
Goodwin calls Milford’s CJ Farrell a “shutdown nook. He’s the kind of child you’ll be able to placed on one aspect of the area and nobody has to fear about that aspect of the sector.” 
Sophomore Dharyus Sisay has three defensive touchdowns and senior captain Chevy Shakespeare, a Bryant commit, is a high-level security and receiver. 
“Our protection is fairly legit, week in and week out,” Goodwin mentioned. “Our m.o. was numerous huge performs from the defensive aspect and numerous turnovers and particular groups impression performs. Our offense was a piece in progress, nevertheless it has picked up.” 
Goodwin makes use of two quarterbacks most video games. Junior Craig Haas has 14 landing passes and simply two interceptions. Sophomore Ryan Bowdridge, additionally a baseball participant, is 6-5 and has an “absolute cannon,” Goodwin mentioned. “He’s simply wanted a few of the teaching on decision-making and understanding that he would not must make the hero play each single time.” 
Bowdridge additionally strains up at tight finish, a place that Framingham’s Eli Rosen, a sophomore, additionally performs. 
Goodwin, a Foxborough native, performed at Springfield Faculty, the place he was a two-time All-New England linebacker. He coached for 15 years at the school degree – Springfield, Stonehill and Bryant – earlier than deciding to take a step again for household causes.    
He took the job at St. Mark’s whereas his first baby, Jaxon, was making breakthroughs and he was watching them from afar. 
“I noticed each milestone that he had hit – speaking for the primary time; strolling for the primary time – over the cellphone,” mentioned Goodwin, who additionally has a 1-year-old son, Jace. “I didn’t need to be not round for his or her younger years.” 
Farrell, who performed soccer and basketball at Milford Excessive for 2 years earlier than reclassifying to the category of 2027, is the cousin of former SMS hockey participant Sean Farrell, now a member of the Montreal Canadiens. CJ, a second-year St. Mark’s soccer participant, mentioned he arrived on the choice to return to Southborough after discussing the selection together with his household and Goodwin. 
“It appeared like a great alternative for me,” CJ Farrell mentioned. “It appeared like a great place to be with after speaking with coach Goodwin and seeing the blokes he was bringing in and what he was doing for this program – simply appeared like the correct thought. I needed to tug the set off and get right here.” 
Junior Logan Prock transferred in from Wellesley Excessive, and after taking part in sparingly to start out this season, is beginning at security and performs large receiver. He’s additionally the staff’s kicker after Whitaker harm his knee.  
Prock was conscious of St. Mark’s winless season when he arrived final fall. 
“The soccer staff has come a good distance,” he mentioned. “That’s what I heard once I first got here right here: coach Goodwin is making an attempt to do one thing with this program and it actually piqued my curiosity. He needed to make a swap.” 
The swap remains to be within the “ON” place. Another win and the ability will perpetually be within the fingers of the 2025 staff. 
“As a lot as I like the historical past piece, the large half for me is dealing with the day-to-day – and the place issues finish as that clock hits zero, that is what you could have awards banquets for; that’s when you can begin to look again,” Goodwin mentioned. “It doesn’t imply a lot to me if you’re going to tie one thing and one other staff is undefeated. I need us to be the one staff up there with eight wins within the historical past of St. Mark’s.” 
Tim Dumas is a multimedia journalist for the Day by day Information. He could be reached at tdumas@wickedlocal.com. Comply with him on Instagram at tdumas1.

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