Joe Gruseck only has one tactical rule for the Dover-Sherborn boys’ soccer team: when defending — get behind the ball. The 30-year coach pounds the table for it, and it might’ve won the Raiders the Division 3 state title last season.
By early October, D-S couldn’t defend. It had just lost, 2-1, to Dedham, the sixth time in the first 12 games it had conceded multiple goals. Gruseck brought together his group, triggered after yet another loss to Marauders, and the Raiders confronted their reality. They had no choice but to buckle down the hatches defensively.
“Let’s just shut this end down,” Gruseck said, “and we’ll go from there.”
Using a robust 4-5-1 formation, in which the Raiders play a high-line but still demand at least 10 players behind the ball, D-S didn’t concede another goal for a month. They won their last 11 games, keeping a clean sheet in eight, including a 2-0 victory over Norwell in the state final.
“If we don’t let up goals, we can’t lose” said Caio Dos Santos, a returning Globe All-Scholastic midfielder/center back.
And they didn’t.
It’ll be the same formula for D-S in 2025 — ranked No. 10 in the Globe’s Top 20 poll — as it seeks to defend its first championship since 2010. Despite graduating four starters and 12 players overall, a 13-strong senior class returns, including Dos Santos, who will start the year on the backline, All-State center back Hamilton Tsen, wingback Ahbi Sharma and goalie Patrick Driscoll. Junior Nash Johnson will start opposite Sharma, giving the Raiders a formidable defense from which to build their attack.
“That’ll be the approach we take again this year,” Gruseck said. “Let’s focus on team defense and, generally, when we do that, the offense takes care of itself.”
The Raiders know they will score. They did it in bunches last year — 64 goals in 23 games. There are no rules to the way they attack; Gruseck runs a free-flowing operation that tries to avoid classifying players with set positions. Senior twins Winston and Wesley Bunn are the stars, and though they usually play on the right and left wings, respectively, they had swapped sides when Wesley scored the title-winning goal off a cross from Winston last November.
Both can run the touchline to cross or cut inside to shoot — it’s all part of the Raiders’ shapeshifting attack. So too is Miller Polak, a sub last season who will start up top, replacing grad Simon Hart.
“Simon last year was very clinical, was in the right place at the right time,” said Wesley Bunn. “Miller is a little more versatile. So it gives us a chance to make combination plays with him up top — that could lead to him coming out wide and me and Winston cutting into the middle.”
“We got a little secret weapon named Miller Polak,” added Dos Santos.
Per usual for this group, a lot of whom have been playing together since seventh grade, there’s no doubt the goals will come. Whether or not the Raiders supplement it with their play at the other end is the question, but this defensive core couldn’t be much more experienced. All of this has Gruseck feeling, well, pretty good about the possibility of a repeat.
“Not being arrogant or anything, but with the experience and depth these guys have, I think they have as good a shot as anybody.”
There will be competition in Division 3, with Norwell ranked 17th in the Globe’s Top 20 and Medfield — which Gruseck anticipates will be right in the mix — at No. 18.
“We have a 23-player roster,” Dos Santos said. “Every single one of us believes we can win it again if we pick up where we left off.”
Corner kicks
▪ Duxbury’s returner-heavy squad only had a few holes to fill entering the new year, and the right pieces fell straight into the lap of coach Brian Johnson.
Brothers Lucas and Cam Heald returned to Duxbury from BC High, providing exactly what the Dragons needed. Lucas (a junior) slots in as the team’s striker while Cam (a sophomore) fits in as needed — whether that’s in the midfield or across the back line.
Senior Robert Wiesehahn returns between the sticks, with All-State center back senior Brooks O’Brien out in front. Junior Gavin Bohan, an EMass All-Star last fall, moves up from the back line to the midfield. Seniors Joe Baraky and Alejandro Mendoza will work alongside Lucas Heald in the attack.
In all, the Dragons graduated just one player. They project to be a big contender in the Patriot League.
“Our experience over the last two years, a lot of guys starting and getting time on the field, now they’re seniors and it’s their time,” Johnson said. “I think they’re just going to be super competitive.”
▪ With the season beginning in earnest Tuesday afternoon, a reminder of how last season finished. Along with Dover-Sherborn in Division 3, Newton North (Division 1), Oliver Ames (Division 2), Cohasset (Division 4), and Sutton (Division 5) all captured state titles.
Games to watch
Tuesday, 4 p.m., Lynnfield at Newburyport — Two perennial Cape Ann powers kick off the new season in style. Each has won a state title in the last three years.
Wednesday, 4 p.m., No. 20 Newton North at No. 3 Needham — The Tigers’ D1 title defense begins with a huge Bay State Conference tilt against a tough Needham squad.
Thursday, 5:30 p.m., No. 19 Franklin at No. 2 Oliver Ames — Two of the Hockomock League’s best clash as the host Tigers begin their quest for a four-peat in Division 2.
Saturday, 10 a.m., Dearborn STEM at Wayland — After a trip to the Division 5 final a year ago, the Wolverines open their slate against a Wayland team that made the D2 quarterfinals last season.
Saturday, 4:15 p.m., Holliston at No. 18 Medfield — A nonleague game between two teams that will factor heavily into their respective sides of the Tri-Valley.
Correspondent Mike Puzzanghera contributed to this story.
Sam Robb O'Hagan can be reached at sam.robbohagan@globe.com. Follow him on X @samrobbohagan and on Instagram @samrobbohagan.