MS Boys Soccer

Just when coaches and players think they have seen it all, something happens that they have never seen before. That is the best way to explain the game played on Wedensday afternoon at Renbrook. The two teams are evenly matched, with a nice blend of talent and sportsmanship on both sides. All of the kids on both teams played their hearts out, and the final result (2-2) was in many ways a just result. However, how it got to that score was unusual, to say the least. We went down 1-0 with less than 20 seconds left in the first half. It was unfortunate, for a variety of reasons, but that is sports and players need to be resilient. This is what sports teaches kids, and why sports is co-curricular. Halfway through the second half, Sam Golino scored a terrific goal to tie the score. The final 15 minutes were back and forth, with both teams having a number of scoring opportunities. With approximately 45 seconds left in the game, hustling players for each team converged along with the KO goalie, and the result was a deflection off a KO foot that went into the net. Certainly a tough result, and a tough break. This happens in soccer, and if one plays long enough, every defender at some point experiences this. So, with only 45 seconds to go, KO did not give up hope. The kickoff that followed saw KO deliver a long ball into the Renbrook box, and it ended up in their goalie’s hands. Perhaps in an effort to delay, the ball was held for an extended period of time and a delay of game was called, resulting in an indirect kick from about 15 yards out. After much confusion, and the clock finally stopped at 5 seconds left, Sam Golino touched the ball to Jake Schwartz, who delivered a fantastic strike into the left corner. Pandemonium ensued, as a tying goal seemed like a game winning goal. As I said at the start, the end result was fair, though how it got to that point was certainly seen differently by each side. The bottom line is that kids for both teams played their hardest, adn my guess is that they, along with the coaches, will always remember this game.

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Away
(League)
Tie
KO: 2 – Renbrook School: 2
Location: Renbrook School
Directions: Turn left onto Albany Ave