On November 6th, the boys junior B soccer team welcomed Vermont Academy’s JV team to the lower fields for a 2:30 pm kickoff. It was a perfect fall day for a match – sunny and cool. In what has unfortunately become a familiar pattern, Deerfield dropped another one-goal match to fall to 2-6-1 on the season. VA controlled the run of play for most of the first half, but was unable to get a shot past keeper Joe Berman ’25. As the half wore on, Deerfield got some good opportunities of their own, but the VA keeper was also up to the challenge. Kevin Gonzalez ’24 put numerous long-range shots on frame, but none found the back of the net and the half ended in a 0-0 draw. Excitement came quickly in the 2nd half, as Deerfield drew their first penalty kick of the season in the 3rd minute, but was unable to convert, preserving the draw. In the 23rd minute, a miscommunication in the back led to a scramble in front of the Deerfield goal, and VA were able to take advantage, slotting home a goal to take a 1-0 lead. As in previous games, Deerfield fought hard to tie the match late, but were unable to find the back of the net. Perhaps the biggest loss of the match were several starters, who were injured and unlikely to be fit for the final match of the season. Cushing Academy’s JV team will visit the lower fields on November 10th at 3 pm, as the boys junior B team finishes up the 2021 campaign.