Boys' Thirds Soccer vs Hotchkiss School

Score/Result:

Our lads finished our Thirds soccer season with a good win against a strong, determined Hotchkiss side.  Both teams battled hard during the first half but neither side could get one past the two keepers, and we went to break tied at nil-nil.  

Both teams came out fired up in the second half and Hotchkiss got the better of it early as they put a good long shot in the upper left corner past Taft keeper Brian Tomasco.  Brian had no chance on this ball but definitely had some strong saves later in the half.  Our lads came right back and worked the ball up the right side as James Matons and Bohan Gao set up a nice passing combination that lead to a nice cross from Bohan that Manni Capece headed past the 'kiss goal keeper to even the score at one.  Taft came right back with a few good chances that went for naught until Eli Cooper carried the ball down the middle and fed James Matons who placed a lovely shot in the upper right corner that pulled Taft ahead 2-1 but with plenty of time on the clock.  Oddly, James chose to play dead as his goal celebration method choice.

Hotchkiss really pulled out the stops at this point and our boys gave as good as they got.  Both sides played hard until the final whistle that sounded with the Rhinos still ahead 2-1.  All of our boys played well.  Our captains, Eli Cooper, George Johnston and Doug Goldstone, provided good leadership on the field and before and after the whistles.  Christian Paton had another strong match in goal.

This is the end of our season that ended very successfully at 11-2-1 with 45 goals for and only 14 against.  Beyond and more important than the record, our lads played with class when other options for playing style were possible and even attractive.  We stuck together as a team and had fun in practice and in matches and on the bus while also become better soccer players and better people.  Bravo and good luck, lads!  Cheers, JL