Taft arrived at the pitch on a picturesque Parents’ Day ready to do right by their school and their families. They assembled for the pregame with purpose, and dominated possession from the first whistle. Kent played a defensive strategy, holding a deep, central line. Taft worked the ball back and around to the wings throughout the first half, and created a few chances in the center of the box. Luca Gatti played a pass back to captain Noah Cinel for a shot in the 12th minute, to be saved by the keeper. Noah took another opportunity in the 33rd minute, this time meeting its fate on the upper woodwork. The Rhinos maintained their composure, with Thompson Knight connecting well with Kaden Parsons along the right wing. At half-time, the game remained scoreless, but Taft returned to the field all the more determined to break Kent’s defensive line. Big Red took several corners in the 42’ to 54’, but none with the service necessary to create a chance. Cinel and Suri took freekicks as well, to a similar effect. Taft began to find momentum in their attack around the 55th minute, with a shot from Cinel near the top of the 18, and a threatening run from Parsons along the left post. In the 59’, the momentum amounted to the goal Taft was looking for; Jonathan So answered the call of Knight’s Michelin Star-quality service from the midfield. It was a thrilling volley strike to break the drought. From this point forward, Taft strung together several impressive plays. Patrick Yan scored the insurance goal in minute 71’ through a tiddy set of short passes with Camilo Pinto-Gonzalez. The two looked like they were running a clinic, setting the pace of play on their own terms. Not two minutes later, Miller Masterson put himself in the right place at the right time, crashing a ricochet from the keeper. Just a few minutes after that, Masterston dribbled through the right-post line and put one right in the back of the onion bag. In the final seconds of play, Miller chipped the ball for a ricochet off the woodwork, and Patrick Yan once again made a beautiful run to finish the job and score Taft’s fifth and final goal of the game. Kent held off Big Red for 60 minutes, but Taft maintained composure and momentum and mustered an impressive performance in the final quarter of play. The game was a testament to their preparation and growth throughout the season, another step in the right direction before Taft meets Choate for what promises to be a competitive bout.