College coaches from all over the country traveled to Loomis Chaffee to watch the dozens of prep school soccer teams participating in this year’s Northeast Soccer Jamboree. The crowd was particularly large for the day’s first match between the Winged Beavers of Avon Old Farms and the Rhinos of Taft. Right from the start, it was clear that the spectators were in for a classic. The intensity was high, and the opening minutes were played at a furious pace. Early in the match, Avon pressed the Rhinos, who seemed initially unable to match their opponent’s energy. Avon’s pressure forced a Taft defender to play a pass back to goalkeeper Shayan Karimi. The bumpy pitch caused the ball to hop over Karimi’s foot and roll into the back of Taft’s goal, giving Avon a 1-0 lead only three minutes into the match. Avon continued to push and doubled their lead when a cross from the left flank was deflected to the back post, where an Avon attacked punched it over the goal line from inside the six-yard box. Just sixteen minutes into the match, Taft was staring at a daunting deficit. However, the Rhinos charged back into the match. Captain Marvin Sibanda blasted a free kick into the top left corner of the net in the 33rd minute to cut the Avon lead in half. Minutes later, a pair of substitutes helped draw Taft level. Nur Adhikarie found the ball in Avon territory and passed it to KK Baffour just outside the penalty area. The freshman created space and drove the ball hard and low and just under the arms of the goalkeeper to even the score. The first half ended without another goal, although there was certainly plenty of excitement and multiple scoring opportunities for each team. Early in the second half, Taft fell behind once again. An Avon forward found space down the left flank and whipped in a cross that caught the arm of a Taft defender. The referee hesitated for a moment but ultimately pointed to the spot, awarding Avon a penalty kick. The Avon forward confidently smashed the ball into the corner of the net to give the Winged Beavers a 3-2 lead. Again, Taft fought back. In the 61st minute, Sammed Bawa used his pace to get around the Avon defender, who was forced to haul down Bawa in the penalty area. The referee again pointed to the spot, this time awarding Taft a penalty kick. Marvin Sibanda stepped up and calmly rolled the ball into the back of the net to knot the score. With twenty minutes left to play, it was Bawa who again unlocked the Avon defense. He found space down the left side of the pitch, dribbled to the end line, and pulled the ball back across the goal for an onrushing KK Baffour. Baffour stuffed the ball into the net to give Taft its first lead of the match. Throughout the final minutes, both teams continued to press, and Avon certainly created their fair share of chances. Fortunately, for the Rhinos, goalkeeper Shayan Karimi made several important saves and dealt confidently with a number of dangerous crosses. The Rhinos’ centerback pairing of Micah Umeh and Zayn Daniels was fantastic on the day, as was midfielder Kharym Florvil. Both teams put forth a tremendous effort, and there is no doubt that the many spectators left having been thoroughly entertained. The Rhinos will have little time to enjoy the victory as an undefeated Deerfield team comes to Watertown on Wednesday.