Promising Afternoon Sees Hope at the End
Saint. Paul’s School Home 10/4
After such a fantastic win over Cushing Academy, our spirits were optimistic as we warmed up for our game against St. Paul’s School on Wednesday. Then, we were informed by one of the refs that we needed to play two 30-minute halves because he needed to get to the varsity game.
This didn’t bode well for us, but after some haggling, we convinced him to start ten minutes earlier, and he could leave with a few minutes left in the game. So, to those parents who arrived “on time” or tuned in to watch us on Live-Stream, we apologize that you missed the first part of the game.
This didn’t bode well for us, but after some haggling, we convinced him to start ten minutes earlier, and he could leave with a few minutes left in the game. So, to those parents who arrived “on time” or tuned in to watch us on Live-Stream, we apologize that you missed the first part of the game.
We started the game off well. Three minutes into the match, Devon LeBlanc took the first shot on net after St. Paul’s earned a foul, but the shot was high. The Pelicans turned things around and took two corner kicks in the next two minutes. Still, Harry Hutton, our goalkeeper, was able to thwart their attempts at scoring.
Our defensive line of Eric Chung, Theo Korhonen, Lucas Mandel, and Carter Freund was doing a good job keeping the offence out of our end.
Our defensive line of Eric Chung, Theo Korhonen, Lucas Mandel, and Carter Freund was doing a good job keeping the offence out of our end.
At the end of twenty minutes, we subbed in Anderson Coe, Sebastian Keen (who we later learned needed his wrist splinted), Ryan McPhee, and Henry Steffen to lend a hand and let the others get a much-needed break from the hot weather.
Then, at the ten-minute mark, SPS were able to get past us on the right side. They brought the ball in close, took a shot two feet from Harry, and scored their first goal. A minute later, Michael Jung sent a beautiful cross to Aiden Bean; however, his shot was saved. We watched as Lucas set up Michael, Michael crossed to John Guillemot, and Michael set up another opportunity for James Lee. Still, all our shots were stopped or just went wide of their mark. We were shooting, but we found no success.
With eighteen minutes left in the half, SPS again got in close. There was a melee inside the penalty box. Harry dove for the ball and deflected it wide. Unfortunately, the Pelicans were able to take possession and send in a second goal.
We followed this up with a drive to the inside. James sent a crisp pass to John’s left. He took a left-footed shot that just went high of the top corner.
We followed this up with a drive to the inside. James sent a crisp pass to John’s left. He took a left-footed shot that just went high of the top corner.
At the five-minute mark, Cho Man Bian earned a questionable tackle inside the penalty box, and SPS gained a Penalty Kick. This caused me to crush my hat and mumble a few slight imprecations to myself.
Our track record for shutting down penalty shots has not been very good. SPS began with a stutter-step, but Harry did not fall for it. The kick was made, and Harry saved the shot!
Our track record for shutting down penalty shots has not been very good. SPS began with a stutter-step, but Harry did not fall for it. The kick was made, and Harry saved the shot!
By the time the first-half whistle was blown, we had kept the ball in their end more and had taken more shots but were down by two goals. We knew the next goal was going to be important for both teams.
We came out of the huddle ready to earn back what we’d given up. SPS took advantage of their possession and got in close, but Harry deflected their first shot and saved the second. Aiden received the punt and took a long shot that just went wide. Marek Girard moved up front to assist our strikers. But then, again, SPS got behind our defensive line and went one-on-one with Harry, but although he tried, he could not stop the finesse shot to the far corner.
This was frustrating, but our boys did not give up; they fought harder. We saw Devon’s shot saved. Devon chipped a corner kick into Adi Lesbeck, who headed it a bit high. Then Bryson Tucker controlled a pass, looked up and saw James hustling toward the net.
Bryson sent it up, and James deftly kicked it in to put us on the board. This was followed up with the combination of Solomon Holton and Michael Jung working their way up the side and shooting a bit wide. Mickey Winham set Devon up for a wide shot. Yiyi She passed up to Matt Fussteig, and his shot was saved. Jordan Garfat also set Matt up for a shot, which was also saved. Finally, with eleven minutes left in the game, Lucas chipped a pass to Matt, who crossed it up to Devon. Devon was in position and sent the ball into the back of the net.
Bryson sent it up, and James deftly kicked it in to put us on the board. This was followed up with the combination of Solomon Holton and Michael Jung working their way up the side and shooting a bit wide. Mickey Winham set Devon up for a wide shot. Yiyi She passed up to Matt Fussteig, and his shot was saved. Jordan Garfat also set Matt up for a shot, which was also saved. Finally, with eleven minutes left in the game, Lucas chipped a pass to Matt, who crossed it up to Devon. Devon was in position and sent the ball into the back of the net.
In the game’s last minutes, we saw more good passing and shots, but they either went a little wide of the Pelican goalkeeper, or he was able to make the save. By the end, we were a goal short of the tie.
Today, we head to Holderness School for a 5:30 game under the lights.
