In Coach Bill Scott’s last year with the team, Andover Boys Soccer fought its way to an undefeated regular season, a testament to Scott’s long and rich history with the team.
The undefeated streak came to an end in the semifinals against Worcester, leaving the team with a still impressive 13-1-5 record.
Against Worcester, Dylan Mott ’15 brought his goal tally up to 18 with a goal in the first minute. Nick DiStefano ’14 added his 17th goal to put Andover up 2-1, but Worcester took a 3-2 lead just before the close of the first half.
The second half was a defensive battle, and Worcester retained its 3-2 lead. “Although we lost, we were happy with the way we competed. Unfortunately, the outcome didn’t reflect how we wanted our season to end,” said defender Kene Adigwe ’14.
Over the course of the season, Andover struggled to win close games but racked up the numbers against weaker teams. Andover-Exeter saw Mott and DiStefano score four and two, respectively, in a 6-2 rout at Exeter.
“The team was actually the closest team I’ve ever been on, that’s why the last game of the season was so emotional, even though we didn’t come away with the title this season couldn’t have been more memorable. These are the best group of guys I have and will ever play with,” said DiStefano.
This year’s team featured eight Seniors. Co-Captains Taylor Chin ’14 and Graeme Henderson ’14 controlled the midfield and defense through excellent link-up play.
Henderson said, “I came in as a Lower who was decent, and I hope that I evolved into a good Captain. It has been an unbelievable experience for me to see the team grow as I grew and really make my Senior season special. The undefeated [regular] season was certainly the icing on the cake. The boys really stuck together and believed in each other which was what made this experience so memorable.”
Left back Josh Murphy ’15, who will captain the team next year with Mott, said, “A team is only as strong as its Senior leadership, and this year we had unrivaled Senior leadership. From day one of preseason, [Henderson] and [Chin] were determined to set the right tone for the year, creating a good environment and supporting everyone with an ‘everybody loves everybody’ mentality.”
Excellent team chemistry was a key factor in the team’s success.
“There were definitely a lot of highs, and I had many great bonds and relationships with many of the guys on the team. We are a brotherhood. In season you have guys that support you everyday, and they make you want to get better for the good of the team,” added Adigwe, who started his Andover Soccer career on JV3 his freshman year and moved up the ranks.
Coach Will Orben, who joined Andover from Taft this year, will take the team into his more than capable hands. His and Scott’s coaching expertise were critical components this year.
Chin said, “Coach Scott knows how to build a team since he’s done it so many times before. He knows the ebb and flow of a season and manages players better than any coach I’ve ever seen. He and Orben were perfect together.”
Although the team could not replicate its regular season success in the playoffs, the 2013-2014 season was a great time for Andover Boys Soccer. The team’s success will only feed the hunger for gold next year.
“Undefeated seasons happen so rarely when you play a long season like we did. I think the reason we were able to maintain a clean record was that we never got ahead of ourselves. We never thought we were better than we were, and we always felt like we were out to prove something each and every game. We played every game like our backs were against the wall,” said Chin.
