'Spirit' Leads Rashi Soccer to Pair of First Ever Home Wins

Five years ago, the Rashi School began its athletic program – without a home. They bused to either road games or to a Y near their old Newton home.

So forgive the girls and boys soccer teams from bouncing off the walls with excitement when they played the first actual home game in school history.

"I think it helps us because we have more spirit," said eighth grader Melissa Kaufman, of Dedham. "Now I feel like we can put in a lot of spirit and a lot of people can come watch our games. It gives you a more soccer-intense feeling."

No more will the Rashi Rams sports program have to work with other organizations for games and practice scheduling.

"After so many years of traveling everywhere we went, and practice in the middle of the day, and squeeze 30 kids on a half-the-size soccer field, I can't really describe it," said Josh Horowicz, the athletic director and girls soccer coach.

Seeing fans line the fence and on the hill to the side of the newly minted field was something new for Rashi coaches and players.

While parents would often attend games in years past, the location at NewBridge on the Charles and steps from the school allowed teachers, other students and seniors to cheer on the Rams.

"We had some fan support, but it's nice to have your own faculty come out," said Nathaniel Cutter, the boys soccer coach. "We have some NewBridge residents here, which is fantastic."

Teachers said their students acted a bit nervous when they first learned faculty would cheer them on, but they soon warmed up to it.

"It makes it more of a community," said middle school English teacher David Raffeld. "It's good for them to see us in a different light."

Instead of playing soccer games at the Y (formerly known as YMCA), having a home field advantage may sprout up as more fans are drawn to the hill.

"People can cheer for you, and it's your terrain. It feels better," Kaufman said.

The home field means no more pesky bus rides to even home games for the players and coaches.

"I don't like riding buses that much, so I liked being able to walk down to the field, Kaufman said.

For coaches, it makes headaches a bit lighter.

"This is a real gift. It is a real dream-come-true – to have our own field and not have to take a bus," said Cutter.

The aerated lushly green fields will attract more athletes to play sports at Rashi through their eighth grade years, meaning the teams will get better.

"You're going to see a slow and steady improvement here by having these facilities. The kids get to play soccer on a real field," Horowicz said after his game.

But it isn't as if either the girls or boys struggled to win Monday night against the Carroll School of Lincoln.

The girls won 11-0 on unselfish ball movement up and down the field, and the boys won 6-0 after jumping on Carroll less than a minute into the game.

"The girls were very, very excited for this game," Horowicz said. "The hoopla was tremendous."

It's not a question that the teams will play with ruach, the Hebrew name for spirit, players and Rashi officials said. But representing the school and the new field is something the teams face as an ongoing challenge.

 "It's a huge honor, and now we have to live up to that honor," said Cutter.