We lost at Andover on a blustery fall day. Once again on a small, dry, bumpy field, both teams struggled to maintain possession, especially with the wind driving the ball down the sloped field. The energy was good on both sides and we worked hard to generate what pressure we could. Andover was a little more comfortable and athletic with the ball, but we kept them at bay and earned a scoreless tie at halftime. Due to injury and competing priorities, we brought only 13 players, so we had to be lean and gritty. We needed help from Varsity and we recruited another for this trip. Most players ran the whole 80 minutes. Midway through the second half, Andover headed in a corner kick which looked to curl out of bounds before re-entering the field. Still, we could have been first to the ball and Andover beat us there. Minutes later, an Andover cross leaked through the box to an awaiting winger who finished nicely. We kept pushing, but their backline was quick and stifling. Despite the loss, coaches were extremely proud of our boys’ effort and character. Keeper Gianluca Simonelli made two exquisite saves, astonishing the Andover coaches, and motivating our players. And the tireless effort from all levels of play revealed who we really are: tough, focused, competitive, and together in win and defeat. I’m more confident now than ever before that nothing will divide this team. That’s what we’re ultimately aiming for in team sports and Coach Corliss and I are proud to have reached this critical stage of our season by Halloween. With Choate day only two weeks away, we are aiming to finish strong!