Returning to Haskell Field for the first time in over a month, the varsity boys soccer team faced the Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Falcons Tuesday night. The Chargers came on strong, scoring twice in the first 21 minutes.

     With seniors Manny Escamilla and Ludvig Ronngard out due to illness and an ankle sprain respectively, junior Charlie Cowan and freshman Drew Ellis filled in, both performing well.

     “We did not adjust our playing style or game plan in any way. We have depth in the team’s roster, and we trust players are able to step up when other players are injured or sick,” Cowan said.

     The Chargers defense was rock-solid in the first half, including three saves by senior goalkeeper Sam Reeder. The Chargers’ offense was equally strong. After senior center midfielder Alistair Ford scored from a rebounded shot by Ellis in the 9th minute, the Chargers kept their foot on the gas.

     In the 21st minute, a tackle by the Falcons in the 18-yard box awarded the Chargers a penalty kick. Ford squeezed the shot past the left-diving keeper for his second goal of the match, putting the Chargers up by two early into the game.

     Shortly after, the Chargers found themselves on defense and successfully fended off multiple opposing corner kicks. Reeder made a diving, highlight-reel save in the 25th minute.

     8th grader Billy F. had a golden opportunity to extend the lead to three before halftime but banged an open shot off the left post.

     The Chargers played both sides of the ball well and staved off a comeback in the second half. The Falcons scored a goal in the 55th minute but could not claw back from their first-half deficit. 

     The second half also included some physical play and shoving from both teams. Cowan said, “If a team starts to play physically, we can always match them, and if a team starts to play dirty, we defend our teammates.”

Player of the game: Alistair Ford

     Ford was certainly the highlight of the match. He had two shots on goal early and drew a penalty, leading to a goal soon after. He also kept possession after the Falcons cut the Chargers’ lead to one in the second half. Cowan said, “He does a great job coming up during the attack, but also dropping back to defend and control the ball.” After his two scores in this match, Ford now has three goals and 11 total points on the season.

Standout performers:

Sam Reeder: 

     Reeder had multiple saves, including a direct save off a corner kick in the 16th minute and a diving stop in the 25th.

Noah Jaffee:

     Jaffee was on the ball all night. He made numerous sprints up the field from the winger position, using his speed to control the lead.

Charlie Cowan:

     After being thrust into a starting role, Cowan was a massive bright spot for the Chargers. He played striker, but often dropped back into defense, using his physicality to prevent any momentum shifts in the Falcons’ way.

Recap:

     The Chargers’ early aggression and unwavering prevention of chances for the opponent allowed them to extend their win streak to eight straight games with a 2-1 victory. The Chargers move to 9-0-1 on the season. They play next on Friday, January 17th at home against a weak Tampa Catholic side. The next match is senior night, where the team’s 10 seniors will be honored before kickoff.