Boys’ Varsity Hockey Splits Last Two Games

Last week, the boys’ varsity hockey team went up against the number one prep school team in New England, Kimball Union Academy (KUA). Big Red lost with a score of two goals to one. Lower Garrett Foster scored the lone Exeter goal.

Lower Michael Pitts commented on this loss, saying, “Obviously, we knew it was going to be a tough test.” The team played away at the rink at KUA, and Pitts explained that the team felt fatigued after stepping off the bus. Exeter was losing 2-0 when Foster scored to give Exeter a chance of a comeback. However, as Pitts said, “KUA ended up holding onto the lead.” Foster agreed, saying, “It was a really close game.”

The game could have gone either way. “There were a lot of scoring chances for both of the teams. It was an inch away from being tied, but [KUA is] a good team,” Pitts said.

According to senior and co-captain Collin Shapiro, “It was a hard-fought game.” Although the team was unable to triumph, Shapiro said, “I thought we played really well and took some positives out of it.”

“I think that the coach and everyone was pretty satisfied at the end of the game with the team’s effort and commitment. We showed that we are a hard team to beat.”

Reflecting on the game, Foster commented, “I think that the coach and everyone was pretty satisfied at the end of the game with the team’s effort and commitment. We showed that we are a hard team to beat.”

On Saturday, the team was able to turn their loss around. They faced Buckingham, Browne and Nichols School (BB&N). Reflecting on this game, Pitts said, “We were coming off of a tough loss from KUA so we were obviously fired up.” He added, “We wanted to make a statement to the rest of prep school hockey.” The team was able to make their statement with an 8-0 win. In the first period, lower Hunter McCoy and upper Bobby Murray scored. Their goals were assisted by upper Conor Shannon and Foster, and upper Sam Stone and Pitts, respectively.

In the second period, Shannon scored, with an assist by senior Matt McShea and lower Reese Popkin.

During the third period the team scored more often, earning five goals. These were scored by Pitts, upper Kyle Jadatz, senior Noah Maercklein, Stone and lower Keith Moss. Pitts lauded the team for their ability to “dominate the game from start to finish.” Pitts added, “I don’t think they even got a decent scoring chance.”

Foster said that a positive the team took away from the game was that, “we got to get all the guys in who don’t always play.” He added, “we had a couple guys with a lot of points who don’t usually play.”

In the coming week, the team is playing the Holderness School away on Feb. 1 and the Tilton School at home on Saturday, both of will be challenging games.