For coach George Pinkham, the 2007 Bow boys soccer team was as satisfying a group of players as he could imagine mentoring. Having graduated 13 seniors from a team he considered the best in school history, Pinkham was prepared to rebuild.

But the guys playing the game carried Bow to the Class I finals, where they lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to now-three-time defending state champ Hanover.

“These players, from the preseason on, kind of bloomed and blossomed as a team. They found their identity and developed talent as a team, and as the year went on, their success surprised me,” said Pinkham. “I knew they’d be a tournament team, but was I expecting to go to the state final and be that close to a championship? No.”

Moreover, the coach said his team went about winning the right way, drawing one yellow card throughout the undefeated regular season, while also earning the competitive respect of their opponents.

Class I coaches certainly recognized the talent, as four Falcons were named to the all-state team.

Ryan Obolewicz, who tallied 31 goals in 2007, not only made first-team allstate, but was also recognized as one of four all-New England forward selections.

He is the third Falcon in the school’s 10-year history to join the exclusive club.

“He’s just a gifted offensive player who will be sorely missed, that’s for sure,” said Pinkham of his senior captain.

Kyle Geddes, another of Pinkham’s tri-captains, directed the team from his position as center-midfielder, where he scored 17 times himself and assisted on 11 other occasions.

“He’s a big, gifted kid in terms of size, and a lot of colleges noticed,” said the mentor. “He was one of the first kids mentioned every time I got a call. He can play in college, no question, him and ‘Obi’ both.”

And like Obolewicz, Geddes will represent the Granite State in the Lion’s Cup against Vermont in July.

While the two Twin-State players consistently put the Falcons on the board, sweeper Brian Raffio kept foes off it.

Raffio was selected as second- team all-state in his first year in the backfield.

“He’s always been an offensive player and last year came off the bench as an offensive midfielder, which is where I could see his potential early,” said Pinkham. “But he knew we had graduated everyone in the back, including our goalkeeper, and he came to me before the season and asked me to look at him to step in. He was the first one I looked at, and he didn’t move out. He started every game as our sweeper.”

Fellow defender Jason Langevin was also recognized, receiving an honorable mention from the Class I coaches.

As Bow’s center-back, the senior solidified an inexperienced group of defenders to shut the opposition down throughout the year.

Certainly, the departure of the four seniors leaves gaping holes to fill, though Pinkham noted he’s been here before. “I look at the last two years and we will have graduated 25 kids going into next season. That team will have a big hill to climb,” said Pinkham. “But I’m just going to tell them, ‘It’s your turn. Now let’s see what you can do.’”

Pinkham said the departing all-staters will likely play college ball, as well as a few others from this year’s state runner-up.

Obolewicz is receiving strong interest from Babson College, which his coach said would seem a perfect fit. The school offers what is considered one of the top business schools in the country, in addition to a chance to play everyday.

“There’s no question he will play someplace,” said Pinkham. “But he’s an incredibly smart kid, one of the best in the high school scholastically. He’s right there at the top, and he’s very interested in pursuing business.”

Geddes is considering staying in New Hampshire and playing at either D-III Keene State or Plymouth State, where teammate Bobby Waddell may play as well.

Raffio is taking a hard look at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, and Langevin may play at the University of New England.