On parent’s weekend, the boys varsity soccer team faced a talented Hotchkiss team that was fresh off a 2-0 win over NMH, last year’s New England finalists and perennial powerhouse. The big green knew they would be tested and would have to play a disciplined 90 minutes of soccer and were particularly motivated by the fact that Hotchkiss had beaten them by a score of 4-0 last fall.
With a crowded sideline of parents and friends, the boys came out to play and put forward their best performance of the season, stifling a relentless Hotchkiss attack and countering with pace and precision. A goal from PG Chad Haggerty ’17 that just barely crossed the goal line put the big green up early and they would never look back as they added two more before the end of the half. One of which, came off the foot of PG Angel Paes ’17 of Valladolid, Spain who notched his first goal of the year on a rebound off his initial shot from a penalty kick that was saved. Angel has been a key ball winner in the midfield for the team thus far and after assisting on so many other goals this season it was great to see him get one himself. The final goal of the half was scored by Senior George Fair ’17 who beat the keeper on a breakaway, sliding the ball into the bottom right corner of the net for his tenth of the season.
However, the offense was not the only bright spot for the big green. The team defended remarkably well starting with senior keeper Tim Gerber ‘17 all the way up through our strikers who forced the Hotchkiss defenders to play challenging balls over the top that were consistently knocked out of harm’s way by our back line of A.J. Shea ’17, Jackson Pitcher ’19 and Captain Brian Davis ’17. The team’s only Freshman Zach Davis ’20 was another standout performer as he made life difficult for Hotchkiss in the midfield, intercepting passes and blocking shots from beginning to end.
When all was said and done the big green walked away with a 4-1 win and are now 5-3-1 on the season. The boys varsity soccer team will host Loomis Chaffee at home on Wednesday at 3:30 PM.
Go Big Green!