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Xavi Lee. Photo by Stephen Nalbandian.
This was the game you circle on the calendar. This was the one you want.
When the Putnam Science Academy boys’ soccer prep team convened for the first time in early August, the goal was to finish the season with a No. 1 ranking. The Mustangs knew their game on Nov. 3 – at South Kent, another top team with No. 1 aspirations – would likely determine that fate. PSA built up an 8-1 record and headed into the game ranked No. 4; the Cardinals held the top spot.
But PSA’s hopes were dashed in excruciating fashion, as South Kent scored the game’s only goal with about five minutes to play. A PSA player was whistled for a foul and issued a red card, which led to a set piece that decided the game.
“Everyone’s head dropped as soon as the ball went in,” PSA’s Geni Kanyane said. “It was more disappointment that we had fought for 85 minutes, and just then, off one mistake, the ball went in. We were in that game. Second half, we were in that game as much as they were. We were attacking more, we had possession. We were just unlucky.”
Making it even harder was the time the team spent training to stop set pieces.
“This was the biggest game of the year,” Hadly Bell said. “To lose in that way, it was a bitter disappointment. We had been training for that. And to concede a set piece, in the last few minutes of the game, to lose the game…”
The bus ride home was quiet, to say the least.
“That’s not a bad thing because it shows that it meant a lot to everyone,” Kanyane said. “If everyone was buzzing and happy after that game, you’d think maybe it didn’t mean that much.
“But we all felt it. We felt it. Everyone knew this match was coming and was looking forward to it. We were all so disappointed.”
Earlier in the week, Kaone Kolangano and Gabriele Formiconi scored one goal each and the Mustangs won a tune-up game 2-0 at Hoosac.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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