Pomfret pg 7 11-18-21
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
The Pomfret School varsity boys’ soccer team will be heading to the NEPSAC Class B Playoffs with its first game against Brooks School Nov. 17.
On Nov. 13 Pomfret beat Millbrook 3-1 with goals from: Declan Chapman 9th minute; Grant Maurer 24th minute; and Lawrence Viola 29th minute. Assists came from: Declan Chapman, Grant Maurer and saves came from: Austin Kendig 3 saves and Javier Alonso 4 saves
Before the game the team honored its 11 senior players and two senior managers: Managers Alex Kang and Harry Lee and players: Ethan Forbes, Grant Maurer, Austin Kendig, Declan Chapman, Dylan Tran, Fred Coulibaly, Eumir Rodriguez, Javier Alonso, Henry Cattell, Kaya Horvath, and Tareq Altayyar.
He said: “Our seniors led us off and while the first few minutes of the game were a bit choppy, we threatened Millbrook consistently. Tareq, Dylan, Declan, and Grant went close early, but Millbrook’s keeper made some solid saves. Eumir, Ethan, Ryan Cho, and Henry responded well to Millbrook’s direct passes and long throw-ins. Austin had to communicate well during these long throw ins and his leadership helped us make sure to get first touch. The game needed a goal to get some energy flowing, and in the 9th minute Declan supplied it.
“This gave us a solid advantage and Grant almost doubled the score a couple of minutes later. The pace of the game was still a bit choppy, and unfortunately for Pomfret a Millbrook cross was not cleared, and they were able to tie the game up 1-1. In the game’s 24th minute, a combination from Declan and Grant freed space for Grant to surge through and fire a shot low and hard into the corner. Just 5 minutes later a nice spell of possession got the ball to Grant. He maneuvered past his defenders and fired a cross into the box where Lawrence was waiting to finish coolly.”
He said the second half performance “lacked some of the quality we have been used to during the last few weeks, but our defense remained strong, and we continued to have offensive opportunities. Our shots or final balls were a bit off during this second frame. We stayed organized, focused, and defensively solid, and were able to maintain our 3-1 advantage throughout the half.”
The Griffins’ record is 10 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties. Ten wins is the most in the program since the fall of 2012.
They were undefeated at home, and won their last five games.
By Patrick Burke
.