Deerfield’s Junior A team made a statement on Saturday afternoon at its home opener in the Valley, putting together their biggest victory over Taft in at least a decade. Their success owed to their ability to maintain possession by moving the ball well, making good decisions, and putting the team’s performance before their own. Newcomers Justin Treyz ’29 and Matthew Susanto ’29 exemplified this unselfish approach with their willingness to play both offensive and defensive with equal verve and commitment. Fullback Charlie Juhas ’29 has quickly emerged as a defensive difference-maker for Deerfield, with his ability to catch anyone and a foot that can jumpstart an offensive drive. Add to this the big boot of centerback Magnus Selvig ’26 and a flawless performance from keeper Leos Jollon ’29 and it’s easy to understand how DA kept the Black Squirrels from scoring. Finishing was a strength of Deerfield’s today, with striker Cole Higgins ’26 tallying his third consecutive hat trick (the final goal a delightful header) and returners PJ Pirch ’28 and Howard Jin ’27 knocking in their first goals of the season. Rookie forward Arhan Baharani ’29 pushed his season scoring total to three with a gorgeous curling right-corner goal off the outside of his foot. The bench erupted when returner Max Yau ’28, two minutes into the second half, scored his first goal of his Deerfield career—the second assist in the game from Kenan Ozada ’28. Another indelible memory from this match will be techie midfielder Will Cleary ’28 losing his cleat in a tackle yet still dispossessing a rival with his sock foot. Now Deerfield turns its attention to a week of road contests, as they head to Loomis on Wednesday for their first of two contests against the Pelicans before they play their first Thirds game against Kent in recent memory.