The Junior A Soccer team lost a hard fought game on Saturday afternoon to a strong and athletic Taft team. Although the boys played with good effort and intensity, generating opportunities throughout the game, it just wasn’t our day. Early in the game, the defense was anchored by deft play from Alex Strait ’20 and Arthur Yao ‘20, clearing several potential through-balls to the outside and back the other way. Adrian Yao ‘20 broke loose in the midfield, beating his defender and sending the ball ahead to Yurok Song ’22, with only a great save by the Taft keeper preventing Deerfield from jumping out to the lead. Later in the half, Taft scored on two back to back breakaways, well-challenged by keeper Crawford Rice ‘21. A final ball sent in off a ricochet gave Taft a three point lead going into the half. Determined to make up the score, Deerfield came back with energy and enthusiasm, moving the ball well and leading to opportunities by Noah Depp ’21 and Jared Faux ’20. Unfortunately, Taft took four corner kicks, and finally snuck one past Rice to go up 4 – 0. After some back and forth physical play, Taft was awarded a penalty kick. The opposing player rifled it to the corner, but the goal was saved on a diving play by Rice. In the final moments of the game, Taft took two more on a breakaway and a throw-in which bounced around the box before finding the back of the net, leading to the final score of 6 – 0, Taft.