BUTTON NETS 200TH WIN AS MILTON HIGH SCHOOL COACH
SWANTON – In his 20th year at the helm of his alma mater and with his son on the field, Milton High School coach Glen Button picked up his 200th career win via a 6-0 win at Missisquoi on Friday afternoon.
A more formal ceremony will take place Wednesday afternoon when Button’s unbeaten Yellow Jackets (11-0) host Middlebury, but following the milestone win on Friday a crowd of Milton players (current and former), parents and fans gathered on the MVU field to honor Button’s achievement.
The occasion was a special one for Button, especially with son Caden on the field as a co-captain and a group of players Button has coached since they were in elementary school wearing the Milton uniform.
“We have such dedicated kids, dedicated families,” coach Button said. “I’ve coached a lot of this group since they’ve been little, we’ve traveled all over. We’ve been to England, we’ve been to regionals in Virginia, we’ve been all over the world as players with me as their coach. So this is special to get it with this group.”
Button was appreciative of the moment but clear that this Milton soccer team is not done its work. A year removed from a championship game loss to Montpelier and with 14 seniors on his roster, Button wants to close out this season with the ultimate prize – one the Yellow Jackets haven’t won since Button wore the armband now donned by Caden.
“I was actually the captain of the state championship team in ’91 in my senior year,” Button said. “That was the last time we won it, so I want to pass that on to somebody else.”
As for the outpouring of support Friday and what’s to come on Wednesday, the younger Button said that came as no surprise to him after a lifetime of Yellow Jacket soccer.
“He’s so well-liked throughout the community. Throughout the years he’s built really good relationships with all those people and it’s so nice to see them out to support all of our games,” Caden said.
“It’s so special. This is my senior year too and I watched all the [Milton] games as a kid and just to be able to come through and be a senior when he gets his 200th win is so special to me.”
For coach both Buttons on the field Friday, the symmetry was almost too perfect and a bit emotional.
“Super special,” Glen said of coaching Caden through this particular stretch. “Getting the chance to coach him and have him have the success that he’s had has been awesome.”
For Caden, he just wants to match the standard his father set as a player.
“He won his senior year, too, and that was the last championship. So if I could get it my senior year that would be incredible.”
Friday’s game was mostly a formality, though Missisquoi (1-8) put up a much better fight than in a 13-0 loss to Milton earlier this year. The Thunderbirds didn’t get a shot on goal until 11 minutes remained but put in an inspired defensive performance anchored by Luc Fournier, Ray Fournier, Hayzen Luneau, and Garrett Fregeau.
Milton’s Ethan Jones scored six minutes into Friday’s contest and Caden Button stole some of his dad’s spotlight with a strong shot to make it 2-0 four minutes later. Zack Logan followed with one goal in the first half and two consecutive in the first 10 minutes of the second to make it a 5-0 game. Cooper Goodrich rounded out the scoring with Milton’s final goal with 13 minutes remaining. Goodrich finished with a pair of assists and Cam Fougere and Logan notched an assist apiece.
Josh Grazier stopped the lone shot on the Milton goal after relieving starting goalie Braeden Caragher. Lucien Bushey and Ray Fournier each made six saves on the afternoon for Missisquoi.
Milton will look to stay in strong form Monday at Green Mountain Valley before honoring Button’s achievement on his home field on Wednesday when Middlebury comes to town for a 4:00 PM kickoff. MVU returns to action Wednesday, traveling to Rice.
