Boys' Thirds Soccer vs Hotchkiss School

Score/Result: 4-3 W

Our lads returned from Fall Long Weekend and almost immediately journeyed to Hotchkiss to face our greatest rival.  Unfortunately our boys played the match like they were still on LWE while Hotchkiss came out fired up and ready to play ball.  In fact, the boys in blue started the scoring early in the first half by moving directly forward and through our backline that was completely unsupported by the mid-field.  Being behind one-nil did wake our boys up somewhat and Taft did earn a few good chances to end the half but no goals.

Taft did wake up a bit in the second half and earn a few good chances but did not score until Doug Goldstone put a lovely free kick forward over the Hotchkiss defense to a waiting James Matons who evened the score at one.  Soon after, J. P. Raftery near-posted a corner that Ezra Levy kept alive and then slipped by the keeper in the scrum that followed.  Then, Bohan Gao made a lovely run down the right side that ended in his first goal of the season.  Taft ahead three-one with thirteen minutes to go, certain victory correct?  No one thought to inform Hotchkiss as they continued to attack and earned two quick goals to even the score at three.  Fortunately, Taft continued to attack and Josh Molder tallied the winning goal on a quick left footer that deflected off a Hotchkiss defender and in, 4-3 win, get on the bus and let's go home.  George Johnston and Eli Cooper again played well for Taft.  Our next match is this Saturday at Trinity-Pawling.  Please come join us in NY state!