Jan Flaska’s glass is always half full. He’s the type of coach who can describe a final record of 2-11-3 as “a good season.”

The Deerfield Academy boys soccer coach will tell you he expected his team to be a good one this season. He’ll tell you he had three players on this year’s roster who earned All-League honors. He’ll tell you he had an outstanding defensive team this fall, one that allowed only 29 goals in 16 games, an average of just under two goals a game. He’ll tell you his team played well in close games. Unfortunately for Flaska, there were just too many close games this fall.

Of Deerfield’s 11 setbacks this season, seven games were decided by a single goal – three by a 1-0 margin and four more by a 2-1 deficit. Then if you throw in a trio of 1-1 ties the Big Green was forced to settle for, it’s easy to see its offense simply wasn’t able to keep pace with its defense. While the Big Green defenders were allowing just 1.8 goals per game, the offense mustered just 13 tallies, or 0.8 goals per game.

Deerfield’s three entries on the Western New England Prep School Soccer Association All-Star roster were, needless to say, concentrated on the defensive end of the field. That list included goalie Ben Bolotin ’12 and midfielders Kurt Heise and Sean Connors, who were both co-captains this season. In fact, Heise was the recipient of this year’s Holbrook-Ellis Cup for his contributions to the game at Deerfield.

Three other contributors on this fall’s defensive unit that Flaska pointed out were Colin Crihfield ’12, Colten McCormick ’12, and KC Beard ’12.

As for the offense, Jackson Dayton ’13, who was voted captain of next year’s squad, headed up the Big Green’s stat sheets with seven points on five goals and a pair of assists, with one of those scores coming in a 1-0 victory over Avon.

Flaska also pointed out Deerfield’s win over Salisbury, as well as a pair of hard-earned 1-1 ties.  One came against Worcester Academy, during which Alex Osgood ’13 scored Deerfield’s lone score, while the other was the season finale against Choate.

Flaska’s optimistic attitude has already set on next year’s fortunes, as the Big Green returns 14 lettermen from this fall’s squad.

Old Mother Nature certainly didn’t turn out to be a fan of Deerfield Academy girls soccer this year.

First, she combined with Tropical Storm Irene just prior to the opening of preseason training camp to turn the girls’ playing field into the bottom of the Deerfield River for about 10 days. But, in her defense, she can’t be accused of being sexist.  She sent everyone on the lower playing fields – football, boys soccer, boys and girls cross country, and field hockey – in search of new digs for the entire season. Then, in late October and early November, more rain forced the Big Green to cancel three of its games, and they just happened to be “three games that I felt were quite winnable,” said Heidi Valk, the Big Green girls soccer mentor.

So, what Valk and her charges were left with was a 5-6-3 record, “But I’m happy with the season,” said Valk. “The kids battled every step of the way. They worked hard, they played hard, and they gave their best every time they went out on the field, so from a coach’s standpoint, I certainly couldn’t have asked for any more than that of them.”

A blend of both experience and youth finished atop the Deerfield stat sheet this fall as a senior and a freshman led the team in scoring. Paving the way was Connie Rhodes ’12, who tallied 12 points on five goals and seven assists, while Mercedes Fissore-O’Leary ’15 was second with 10 points on five goals and five assists. And both girls would later be named to the Western New England Prep School Girls Soccer League All-Star Team.

Other point producers for the Big Green included Vanessa Avalone ’13, who finished with six points on four goals and a pair of assists and who was elected co-captain of next year’s club along with Cate Wadman ’13. Samantha Chai ’15, meanwhile, had four points on four goals. Back on defense, key contributors included Libby Whitton ’12, Wadman, Caroline Coppinger ’15, and Julia Fissore-O’Leary ’15. Youth also ruled between the pipes this season, as Libby Murray and Maryanne Iodice, a pair of sophomores, split time in goal for the Big Green and combined for a goals against average of 2.5.

As for team honors, Rhodes and Whitton shared the Marjorie Ellis Cup.

“I’m already excited about next year,” said Valk. “We’ve got 13 players returning from this year’s team, and they all picked up valuable experience this season, so I’m really optimistic about our chances.”