Boys' Soccer Upsets St. Paul's
With their 10-game winning streak, a playoff spot and their reputation on the line, Exeter boys’ varsity soccer was determined to secure a victory over St. Paul’s School.
After the torrential downpour of rain on Saturday, the team had to reschedule the game against St. Paul’s to Monday. This presented a host of problems because the team could not practice that Saturday or Sunday. Despite all of this, Big Red came through, winning by a score of 1-0.
The goal was scored by senior Nick Tilson, his first of the season. Starting goalie and lower Matthew Chen commented on the goal. “Around the 10th minute, lower Jack Burgess swung in a banging corner, which Nick Tilson graciously headed in the goal,” he said. Lower Aiden Silversti mentioned that the ball was “perfectly placed to get past the keeper.”
Upper Carson Garland highlighted the team’s defenders for their success in their positions. “The backs really showed up during the game, which was evident in the final scoreline. They were able to completely nullify St. Paul’s attacking players,” he said.
Big Red played St. Paul’s during their Parents’ Weekend, which gave the opposition a big fan base. However, Garland said that Tilson’s goal “shut the rowdy fans down.” The Exeter win promoted a certain level of confidence amongst the members of the team.
This game was especially important because, as Garland put it, “We knew that we were going to have to play hard. This was a big game for us because this would greatly impact our ability to make it to the playoffs. It was a do-or-die game for us, but we went in ready.”
Many players highlight their success this season due to the team’s chemistry. “We have a great team dynamic. We all get along great with each other and enjoy our company,” Chen mentioned. “We share a lot of laughs on the pitch, but also encourage each other to stay locked in and to be better.”
Lower JD Jean-Jacques added, “Our team is built on the idea of supportive teamwork and chemistry – three concepts that are fostered by our two senior co-captains Jonah Johnson and Behaylu Barry.”
Silverstri agreed and applauded his team for its success and positive atmosphere. “The team’s chemistry is extremely high and I think we work great together. As some older students told me, this year was expected to be our ‘off year,’ considering how young our team is. However, because of the way we play together, we are playing great,” he said. The younger squad has proven to hold its own and they look to continue their success in the seasons to come.
Chen explained that he is proud of the team and excited to see what the rest of the season brings. He said, “This season has been a blast and I’m super excited for every time we get to play.”