Deerfield’s Junior A team followed up its tight win against Taft with a well-earned 2-1 win against Loomis Chaffee. Loomis, arriving with a deep team of strong players, brought lots of energy to the field, as they kept Deerfield on the defense for much of the first half. A foul in Deerfield’s penalty box led to a successful penalty kick for Loomis at around the 30-minute mark. That early goal, however, failed to depress Deerfield’s spirits, as the energy picked up as we approached the half. Working off that urgency, James Kurto ’25 worked through a crowd in the goal box to score a shot with an assist by Tai Feng ’26 just three minutes before the half. As some heavy clouds rolled through and the weather turned brisker, the energy failed to flag in the second half. After several near-goals on both sides, Bryan Gianvecchio ’26 shot a strong goal in the last ten minutes of the second half, with thanks to an assist from the steady and savvy Shogo O’Connor ’25. Strong defensive moves from captain Matt Dillon ’22 and excellent saves by goalie Leo Ma ’25 were crucial for Deerfield’s winning the game. Both teams played hard to the whistle, with plenty of teamwork and sportsmanship to celebrate on both sides.