The Mad River Valley is an idyllic setting for soccer matches, especially when it’s peak foliage season. So far, nothing can go wrong for coach Joe Yalicki and the Harwood boys team. Life at the top of Division II has simply been grand.
But this is also the time of year where everyone in Vermont knows that when it rains, it pours. And looking ahead to the next two weeks, the Highlanders are buckled in tight for a wild ride. This Tuesday’s trip up Route 100 to face Stowe is the type of tradition that never disappoints.
And like many years, the upcoming rivalry showdowns between the Highlanders and Raiders is likely to determine the 2024 Capital Division champ. Seven years ago the teams were in a similar boat when Stowe secured a 2-0 victory over Harwood, extending its winning streak to 10 matches while snapping the Highlanders’ string of 27 unanswered goals. This year the stakes are even higher, as Harwood (9-0-1) owns a 27-game unbeaten streak and has outscored opponents 72-4 this season.
Stowe (10-0) hasn’t lost for a 21-game stretch and has buried 57 goals this fall while being scored upon four times. The preparation heading into such a big showdown can be tricky when teams are blowing out opponents by such big margins. And for Harwood, fatigue could be a major factor because Saturday’s 2 p.
m. home match vs. Montpelier is likely to take its toll on athletes both physically and mentally.
Although the Highlanders are defending champs, Yalicki’s team was eliminated.