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- Category: Past Issues
Pomfret School
Varsity Soccer
Pomfret 0 Governors 2
Nov. 16: In the NEPSAC Quarterfinals the girls’ varsity soccer team lost in the quarterfinals of the NEPSAC tournament to a strong and athletic Governor’s team. Governors outplayed Pomfret in the first half, winning the 50/50 tackles and battling hard to every loose ball. Pomfret seemed a step behind for the first 40 minutes and gave up a goal at the 20-minute mark when a well placed through ball found Governor’s forward Kendall Ham at the top of the box. Ham split her defenders and drove a hard shot at Mackenzie Dunphy which ricocheted off Dunphy, back at another onrunning Governor’s player, Erica Merullo, and then ultimately behind Dunphy and into the net, giving Governor’s a 1-0 lead. Governor’s had another great chance in the half when Ham got in 1v1 in the box, but Dunphy came up with a huge save to keep Pomfret in the game.
Pomfret began the second half with more tenacity and finally started dictating play. Their hard work created several dangerous opportunities for them to find the equalizer, but Governor’s defended well in their box and Pomfret couldn’t get one to fall. Pomfret looked like they might tie it up off of a corner taken by Carly Scott, but Caroline Kozlowski’s shot to the far post was deflected by a Governor’s defender on the goal line. Kozlowski created another great chance when she beat her player to the endline and drove a ball across the box to the far post but L’Or Iman Puymartin just missed getting on the end of it. Pomfret was pushing forward and taking chances when Governor’s found their talented midfielder, Siobhan McDonough on the left flank in transition. McDonough took a touch past her defender and lofted a ball from 30 yards out that bent in over Dunphy to put Governor’s up 2-0 with 30 minutes remaining in the match.
While Pomfret could have called it a day, they did not quit and continued to fight to get one back and almost did after Andi Nicholson beat two defenders and found herself 1v1 in the box, but her shot was saved by the Governor’s keeper. Gaining another corner, Pomfret pushed numbers into the box, yet the Governor’s defensive clear found Ham at midfield. Ham was headed for goal when Dunphy came out of her box and made a great play on the ball with her feet, but was called for a foul on the play, and being the last defender, the ref had no choice but to send her off with a red card. With their backs against the wall, down 2-0 and down a player, midfielder Morgan Lasewicz stepped up and played big in the net for the remainder of the game. Ironically, this was the most inspiring play from Pomfret all afternoon. While Pomfret created enough chances to work themselves back into the game, they were never able to get one to fall, and credit to Governor’s back line for defending well in the box and working hard for the shutout. Governor’s earned the win with their hard-fought play, but Pomfret showed heart and mental toughness to battle to the end.
The team finished 8-4-3, 2nd in WWNEPSSA Class B, and NEPSAC Quarterfinalists.