Fay earns a hard-fought victory against a talented Fessenden team
In what proved to be one of the most exciting Fay soccer games in recent history, the Varsity A team traveled to Newton to take on an always well-coached Fessenden side. It was their Parents' Weekend and we were playing on their new turf field. The boys were understandably excited and nervous about this game as Fessenden had been dominating most of their opponents this season. Coming off of our game against Roxbury Latin on Wednesday, we knew that the boys were starting to understand the level of intensity required to play against the stronger teams on our schedule: this game would cement this notion.
The game began with Fay controlling the tempo with solid possession soccer. About 10 minutes into the game, Connor played a beautiful ball through to Eduardo who calmly slipped the ball past the Fessenden keeper. As can often happen after a goal, the boys let up some of their intensity and allowed Fessenden to take control of the tempo of the game for the rest of the first half. A defensive miscue allowed a Fessenden midfielder to slip through the defensive line unmarked for an easy 6 yd. strike on goal. With the score tied up at 1, both teams battled until the end of the first half. Fay avoided going down 2-1 after a PK hit the left post about 10 minutes before halftime.
With Fessenden winning most of the 50/50 balls in the first half, we knew that we needed to make some adjustments in order to gain some of the momentum back in the last 35 minutes. It was clear from the first five minutes of the second half that the Fay boys were ready to play. Both teams saw a number of chances thwarted by poor touches in the box and good defensive play on both sides of the field. In what proved to be a deciding moment in the game, Owen saved what looked like an almost sure goal for Fessenden with a timely slide right at the goal mouth after a shot eluded Jose's outstretched arms. About mid-way through the half we moved Kenfari into the midfield to provide a spark in our attack as the boys legs were starting to tire. Soon after, he was fouled about thirty yards from the goal. We gave him the green light to strike on goal as we needed to test this keeper out more than we had. Kenfari's strike found the back of the net and put us up 2-1 with about fifteen minutes left in the game. The final 10 minutes felt like an eternity, but the boys did well to hold off a frenetic Fessenden attack and secured the victory. This was a total team effort and one that Coach Feingold and I will remember for years to come!
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The game began with Fay controlling the tempo with solid possession soccer. About 10 minutes into the game, Connor played a beautiful ball through to Eduardo who calmly slipped the ball past the Fessenden keeper. As can often happen after a goal, the boys let up some of their intensity and allowed Fessenden to take control of the tempo of the game for the rest of the first half. A defensive miscue allowed a Fessenden midfielder to slip through the defensive line unmarked for an easy 6 yd. strike on goal. With the score tied up at 1, both teams battled until the end of the first half. Fay avoided going down 2-1 after a PK hit the left post about 10 minutes before halftime.
With Fessenden winning most of the 50/50 balls in the first half, we knew that we needed to make some adjustments in order to gain some of the momentum back in the last 35 minutes. It was clear from the first five minutes of the second half that the Fay boys were ready to play. Both teams saw a number of chances thwarted by poor touches in the box and good defensive play on both sides of the field. In what proved to be a deciding moment in the game, Owen saved what looked like an almost sure goal for Fessenden with a timely slide right at the goal mouth after a shot eluded Jose's outstretched arms. About mid-way through the half we moved Kenfari into the midfield to provide a spark in our attack as the boys legs were starting to tire. Soon after, he was fouled about thirty yards from the goal. We gave him the green light to strike on goal as we needed to test this keeper out more than we had. Kenfari's strike found the back of the net and put us up 2-1 with about fifteen minutes left in the game. The final 10 minutes felt like an eternity, but the boys did well to hold off a frenetic Fessenden attack and secured the victory. This was a total team effort and one that Coach Feingold and I will remember for years to come!