Boys’ Soccer Falls to 0-2 On the Year After Road Loss to Loomis Chaffee

This past Saturday, Exeter boys’ soccer ventured to Loomis Chaffee in search of their first victory of the regular season. After suffering a disheartening 3-2 loss to Milton on Wednesday to open the season, Big Red walked onto the Loomis Chaffee campus with one goal in mind: victory.

At the beginning of the game Loomis Chaffee scored two uncontested goals, establishing a two to nothing lead. However, Exeter closed out the first half in a dominant fashion; the team administered the lethal combination of a stout defense and a fluid offense, controlling possession of the ball and producing myriad scoring opportunities. Big Red went into halftime with high spirit, convinced that if they kept Loomis scoreless in the second, sustaining their level of play would secure them the win.  Unfortunately, after an unwanted foul inside the 18-yard box, Loomis was awarded a penalty kick just about two minutes into the second half. Loomis capitalized on the chance.

Exeter fought hard to close the gap, but a few too many shots bounced off the post and Loomis’s three points were too much to overcome in the end. Loomis Chaffee won the game with a final score of three to two.

“The loss was primarily due to the combination of a lack of focus and a clearly underestimated competitor. However, with proper mental preparation, I’m sure that there would be a much different result.”

“The loss was primarily due to the combination of a lack of focus and a clearly underestimated competitor. However, with proper mental preparation, I’m sure that there would be a much different result,” upper Alistair Matule said. 

“We wanted the win pretty badly, so it is a bummer that we didn’t get it. We played well, but we are not going to win many games if we give up three goals a game,” senior Brian Moriarty said. 

Although they have suffered two very painful losses thus far, the boys remain optimistic, convinced that they can turn the season around. “We just need to get to know each other, that’s all. We're a team that likes to have fun so we aren't going to get too hung up on specifics,” upper Quintin DiStefano reasons.

Exeter boys’ soccer plays Lawrence Academy this Saturday at 12:30, once again at Loomis, a neutral field. The team got Wednesday off, so they look to be well rested heading into this big game. A 0-3 hole would be tough to climb out of, so the team will be more motivated than ever to win this game and hopefully string together multiple wins to get above .500.