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The Putnam Science Academy soccer team. Courtesy photo.
PUTNAM — The Putnam Science Academy Mustangs are relishing the basketball court with successful boys’ and girls’ prep teams along with up and coming talent for the varsity programs but PSA didn’t want to stop there.
In a year where the school is making big strides by purchasing more land to expand PSA, building a new gymnasium and updating the current basketball court, the Mustangs added an elite soccer program. With a team of 24 fresh new faces with only one being from the U.S., the thought was it would take a while to get these student athletes to mesh and to learn how to play with one another. First game on the road in a showcase against the #8 team in the country, Martin Luther King High School, and the Mustangs tied 2-2 in a game they were in position to win.
Meshing didn’t take long at all.
The Mustangs in their most successful season in school history finished 12-1-2 with the lone loss coming at the hands of South Kent, the #2 ranked soccer program in New England. These Mustangs were dominant. Under first-year Head Coach Ivan Damulira, PSA shut out opponents 10 times in 15 games.
They outscored the opposition on the season 88-8 and scored in double digits three times while having three goal scorers reach double figures.
Class of 2020 Left Wing Felipe Luis found the back of the net a team high 20 times on 25 shots! The Lone American, Class of 2019 striker Vinny Knupp, scored 12 goals and tied for the team lead in assists with 9. Class of 2020 Anco Veiga, who played fewer minutes with the talent on his team, still provided a spark for Damulira scoring 11 goals on 12 shots for Putnam Science Academy.
It was truly a special season for the Mustangs who will have some replacing to do after losing leaders at key positions. Defensemen Tristan Erispe, center-mid-edger Gonzalez and right wing Michael Kutsanzira headline the seniors that will move on to college to continue to play soccer at a high level. Coach Damulira is happy with this team’s success this year as they laid down the blueprint of what Damulira is looking for out of his team and for the years to come at Putnam Science Academy.
Josh Sanchas
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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