After losing its first game of the year, Deerfield came storming back and put on a commanding performance against Suffield, who handed the Thirds team a loss last season. A focused week of practice turned into sharp offensive play and a game in which Deerfield dominated possession. That led to plenty of chances, and Deerfield excelled at finishing, scoring five goals in the match’s first 18 minutes. The first goal came when midfielder Vail Brokaw ’27 broke through the Tigers’ back line and found fellow junior Howard Jin on the wing, whose powerful shot rocketed to the back of the net. When a Suffield hand ball just inside the center circle gave midfielder PJ Pirsch ’28 a free kick, he launched a gorgeous line drive nearly fifty yards over the keeper’s head. A minute later Jin was back on the attack and laid a ball perfectly off to striker Cole Higgins ’26 who faked out the goalie and slotted the ball past his right side. Soon after Brokaw connected with Pirsch, who found the open net when the keeper came too far out. Rookie forward Ari Baharani ’29 was the team’s choice to take the penalty kick after a hand ball in the box and he sent it top right as the keeper dove the other way. Though they struggled to retain possession, Suffield narrowed the score before the half thanks to a breakaway effort at 22′ and a successful PK of their own. But coming out of the huddle, Deerfield snuffed out any momentum their opponents had built when Baharani crossed the ball to Higgins who forced the ball in as the keeper fell onto him for his team-leading twelfth goal of the season. Midfielder José Fernández Zambrano ’28, returning from injury, pushed DA’s lead back to five goals with a screamer off an assist from winger Matthew Susanto ’29. Suffield would notch a third goal after a scrum in front of our net, but we answered back in the final minute with a jaw-dropping deep shot from Jin. While the offense kept the pressure off the Deerfield defense, the backfield still acquitted itself well, with deceptively calm yet fiercely effective play from CDM Jasper Gruhl ’28, the versatile Justin Treyz ’29, and energetic newcomer Nico Idehen ’29, who very nearly scored a goal from the fullback position. The team thanks veteran keeper Jerry Du ’27, who stepped in to cover for our regular goalie who was out sick today. We have a rare Saturday off this week, giving us a chance to rest up for a big week against the perennially tough Westminster on Wednesday before our Fall Family Weekend matchup against Eaglebrook on the 18th.