Boys Soccer (2-2-12) has faced a challenging stretch of opponents in recent weeks, most recently falling to Kimball Union Academy (KUA), 2-1, and Tabor Academy (Tabor), 2-1, in close matches. Although the scores didn’t go the team’s way, it featured many flashes of strong play and momentum. The team remains energized and optimistic as it prepares for Andover/Exeter.
In the game against KUA, the team got off to a slow start, conceding two goals before gradually finding its rhythm. The team closed the match with an impressive shot by James Gordon ’26, who curled the ball into the upper right corner, narrowing the score. Jeff Shen ’26 commented on how the team handles its energy during away games and how that affects its gameplay.
“We had a rough start to the game, mostly because of the long bus ride over there, which has constantly been an issue for a lot of games this season. It’s pretty hard to get up and ready to play a match after a two-hour bus ride. James Gordon ’26 scored an amazing goal against KUA. That goal reflected the progress we’ve made and the determination that’s helped us improve over the past few games,” said Shen.
Keeping possession has also been an area for improvement for the team, with the shortage of attacking opportunities forcing the players to make rushed decisions. Shen reflected on how the team responds to this struggle and frustration.
“It’s been difficult at times to move the ball smoothly from our defensive half to the attacking half. The issue comes when three or four opposing players close in on our formation, making it hard to connect passes and build momentum. However, Coach [Joe] Donnelly’s ability to read the game allows us to make effective tactical changes, and we are also actively improving on it in practice,” said Shen.
Against Tabor, Sunny Yu ’28 highlighted Co-Captain Kai Myles ’27 as a major contributor in keeping the match competitive and the morale high.
“In the second half of the game, our Co-Captain, Kai Myles, scored in the second half to tie the game 1-1. It was a really good morale boost,” said Yu.
With the majority of the season over, the team has all sights set towards beating Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) this Saturday. Shen emphasized what this game means and what the squad is doing to prepare.
“We have to remember that this final game against Exeter is for all the marbles. So far, we’ve seen great success this week in practice, working hard and implementing positive reinforcement with each other to build confidence. This is a big priority as the mental aspects of the game are often more important than the technical ability of a player,” said Shen.
Yu elaborated on how the rivalry between the two schools influences the atmosphere of A/E and how the mental game can make or break a team.
“It’s going to be loud and intense. Both their student body and ours are going to be there, and we know it is going to put a lot of pressure on us, but mentally, our main goal is to be out there to have fun,” said Yu.
Boys Soccer will play against Exeter during A/E this Saturday in its last game of the season.
