The boys junior B footballers had their last home game of the season on October 30th, facing a Bement School varsity team that they had beaten 4-0 on September 18th. Led by yet another Cole Higgins ’26 hat trick, Deerfield were able to pull out a 6-2 victory that was much closer than the score indicated. With the win, the team remains undefeated with a 10-1-0 record with one game remaining.
Deerfield got on the board quickly, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the 4th minute after the first goal from Higgins. Bement responded in the 11th minute, scoring after a scramble in the box to tie the game at 1. Deerfield scored the next 3 goals to race out to a 4-1 lead, with Marty Rodriguez Pastor finding the back of the net in the 16th minute, the first of two goals from Jack Keller ’26 in the 23rd minute, and the second from Higgins in the 30th minute. Just as it seemed like Deerfield might have sealed the game, Bement pulled a goal back just before half-time to make the score 4-2.
Keeper Magnus Selvig ’26 switched to an outfield player in the 2nd half and was replaced by defender Coleman Keller ’28. Keller was called upon to make several saves in the first 15 minutes, as the 2-goal lead seemed far from safe. In the 50th minute, Higgins scored the last of his goals to give Deerfield a 5-2 lead and, potentially, some breathing room. Bement continued to press, but were unable to score before Keller scored his 2nd goal in the 65th minute for the final 6-2 margin.
Quad Squad will be on the road for their last game of the season, against perennial nemesis Vermont Academy. Game time is 2 pm in Saxton’s River, Vermont.