Deerfield Junior A Soccer lost a hard fought and close game against Cardigan 1 – 3 on Saturday afternoon. A fast and skilled team, Cardigan played with high intensity throughout the game but were met with equal effort by the Junior A squad. The teams traded possession for the first quarter of the game, as midfielders Eric Wang ’21 and Tait Kline ’22 helped to move the ball for Deerfield. After keeper Crawford Rice ’21 repelled CMS’s first few attempts, a shot from the top of the box snuck past him to put Deerfield down 0 – 1. Deerfield came back strong, working the ball back up the field. Kline worked the ball across the Cardigan side to Elliot Flagg ’20, who sent a soaring cross to the center of the box. Sam Lauer ’20 got his head on the ball and put it into the back of the net for DA’s only goal of the game, making it 1 – 1. Cardigan scored again near the close of the half on quick direct kick from the top of the box, just sneaking past the keeper, putting DA at a 1 – 2 halftime deficit. DA didn’t give up, though, with attempts from Kline and Flagg deflected by a solid Cardigan back line. Ben King ’22 and Adrian Yao ’20 helped keep the speedy CMS attack contained, rebuffing their advances. One of the best opportunities for Deerfield came on a long cross from Wang into the box. The CMS keeper fumbled it, and Noah Depp ’21 was right there, but the CMS defense closed in and kept the ball out of the net. Teddy Donahue ’21 anchored the defense in the second half, helping to direct the DA back line to draw numerous offside calls. As time was running down, DA pressed the attack, with shots from Tomás Cushman ’22, Lauer, and Depp all ending up just out of reach. Cardigan found a late breakaway on a 50-50 ball and scored the final point of the game. A tough but well played match left the boys tired but with their heads held high.