In near-perfect playing conditions, DA and the visiting Westminster team fought an exciting pitched battle that ended in a 1-1 draw. Westminster struck first: in the 8th minute, a loose ball in the DA box was pushed just across the goal line. GK Ben Diffley ’20 appeared to have made the save in the nick of time, but the assistant referee called a goal and the visitors were up 1-0. As the half proceeded the momentum began to shift in Deerfield’s direction, and the trend continued into the second half. At the 60-minute mark, captain Zach Davis ’20 stole the ball in midfield and played forward into space beyond left-midfielder Sam Bronckers ’20, who outran the recovering defender down the flank to the goal-line and crossed into the box, where Skye Bacon – with a perfectly timed run – met the ball and headed into the goal. From that time onward both teams pressed for the victory. In the final minutes the DA boys pulled out all the stops to preserve the draw: Zach Davis fell to the ground to stop a shot that was about to enter the goal, and Ben Diffley pulled off two magnificent diving saves of point-blank blasts from the Westminster forwards. Notable performances were put in by the junior trio of Achille Sarachek ’21 at right midfield, Kade Goldberg ’21 at left back, and Billy Curtis ’21 at centerback.
On Friday Deerfield travels for an evening game against a strong Hotchkiss team.