11/17/10 - Brooks 0 - Berkshire School 2

No game results posted.  No comments from dad on this one.  The team didn't play very well.  Even hurt his knee again and left the field on crutches.  A great season overall!!!

11/13/10 - Brooks 1 St. Paul's 0 - Dads Game Review

What a difference from the St. Pauls game last year weather wise.  Today it was beautiful, 65 degrees.  Last year we had the second monsoon and I distinctly remember Nick hydroplaning himself to the corner after scoring a goal.  Much better this year.  Some of the parents boarded one of the Brooks mini buses and went up together.  Evidently a few of the boys were appalled that we would do such a thing.  A stop at a great Mexican restaurant in Manchester, NH for lunch (and a margarita or two) prior then on to the field.  The game started and the play was solid going both ways.  Brooks had a few chances but the defense for St. Paul held Brooks off.  On the other end, the Brooks defense was equally tough not allowing much through.  The match went back and forth with Elijah and Zach making some great runs and each nearly a scoring more than once.  Halftime 0-0.  St. Paul's was not playing like a bottom quarter team.  They only had 3 wins, but you would never know it by the way they were playing.  One parent pointed out that they had not lost a game by more than a goal all season.  

On to the second half.  Continued pressure by Brooks.  Finally a bit over 15 minutes in Brooks had a flurry in front of the goal.  Elijah shot, blocked.  Zach picked up the rebound and shot, blocked.  Sam's turn, blocked.  FINALLY Porter on the 4th rebound found the net!!  His first goal of the season on his last regular season game as a senior!!  The team mobbed him.  His mom sitting next to us started to cry, while his younger brother said "Mom? You're not crying are you???"  The half couldn't end fast enough.  Both teams had scoring chances the rest of the way.  Parents received word that Nobels had won 4-0 securing first place.  Under 5 minutes, Zach makes a run with the ball, beating half the team coming from one sideline to the other.  Killing time, but determined not to lose the ball.  Down in the corner, he spins through 2 defenders approaches the net and lays a pass across to the open Elijah.  Unfortunately it rolls off Elijah's foot just wide.  WHAT a run. WHAT A RUN!!!  Finally the whistle.  Brooks has secured second place in the ISL and a sure berth in the NE Tournament.  

After the game, I shake Dusty's hand, and he says to me: "Did you see that run?  Did you see that???  Unbelievable.  He has played so hard and so well over this last 10-12 games.  That slightly slow start is long forgotten.  He's playing at an ALL-ISL level. I have to find him and talk to him."  He left me chasing Zach down and giving him a big hug before talking to him for a couple of minutes.  Almost brought a tear to my eye!!  Now the wait for the tournament berth!!

11/13/10 - Brooks 1 St. Paul's 0 - Official Game Review

Boys Varsity Soccer Tops St. Paul's

St. Paul's played gamely for the full ninety and Brooks struggled to find a way through a well organized defense. Both teams had good chances in the first half but the goalkeeping was superb. Coming out of the break Brooks carried the play and finally broke through with a composed finish from senior Porter Grieve in the 62nd minute. Brooks finished their ISL season with a sterling 9-0-1 run to finish second to Nobles.

11/10/10 - Brooks 2 - Milton Academy 0 - Dads Game Review

This was not a very pretty game.  Yet another small field; and small fields don't suit Brooks very well.  On top of that it was a very slick and bumpy small field.  That said; Brooks opened fast with a great finish by Alex off a very nice cross from Patrick.  Not even 3 minutes in and Brooks is up.  The balance of the half showed some pretty sloppy soccer on both sides.  Brooks pressed, but lots of feet just going out from under.  Evidently you needed 1 inch studs for this field today.  And so it went bot the next 40 minutes. Some decent opportunities for Brooks but not really much to make the game interesting.  Late in the half Drew placed a pass right on Zach's foot and Zach continued his scoring rampage doubling the score.  The half thankfully ended.  Unfortunately, the second half was not much better.  Mud started to show through the grass and footing was awful.  All the parents were watching the clock and hoping for the game to end without any injuries. 

Looking ahead and wanting to ensure the team stayed healthy: Stronach didn't play at all, Sam saw limited time and Cam played the final 30 in goal.  Many of the non starters saw a good amount of time in the second half.  It was obvious to me that Zach's leg still hurt a bit and Dusty pulled him at the 20 minute mark, but 10 minutes later Zach was back in and ready to go.  I'm sure he stayed on Dusty's ear until he went back in.  He came out again with 10 left in the game thankfully.

11/10/10 - Brooks 2 - Milton Academy 0 - Official Game Review

Boys 1st Team Soccer Wins

Brooks earned their tenth victory in convincing fashion today with a 2-0 result down at Milton. Alex Vozzella was the star of the match with relentless work rate and a superb finish in the 3rd minute on a pass from Patrick Gordon. Zach Vieira scored his eighth goal in the last six matches on a fine assist from Drew Myers. Brooks has now pulled within 1 point of league leading Nobles going into the season's final matchday.

11/5/10 - Brooks 3 - Nobels 3 - Dads Game Review

Waiting for the BB&N game was bad enough.  Waiting for the Nobles game was even worse!  Nobels was 10-0-1 going into the game and leading the league.  Brooks was 9-2-1 and tied for second.  Talk about a big game!!  Brooks came out hard and fast.  In the first 10 minutes Brooks had 5 corners and multiple scoring chances.  Nothing crossed the line.  More chances ensued, but still nothing.  As is normally the case, the first chance Nobles had found the back of the net.  Before the half ended they struck again.  A bit of sloppy defense off a corner and bang, 2-0.  

After the half, Sam took a nice feed from Andres, cut across the top of the box and drilled a shot low to the corner.  Momentum Brooks.  Unfortunately more sloppy corner coverage led to a 3-1 Nobles lead.  It looked bleak when Zach, seeming to have a wide open net, had the ball deflected by the back heel of a defender falling to the ground.  Out of nowhere, the heel came up and tipped it away.  It appeared that today was not Brooks' day.  Down to the last 5 minutes.  Intense pressure by Brooks.  A great feed from the flank by Zach to Alex who immediately spotted Jon streaking in on the left and it was 3-2.  

Brooks dug the ball out and retreated to center.  The next minute or two were frantic in front of the Nobles net.  The ball popped up high, Zach went up to get it and headed in the tying goal!!  Can you believe it???  The last minute and extra time had chances for both teams but the game ended tied.  Unfortunately in that last 2 minutes Zach took a knee to the thigh and was hobbled a bit.  On his last run to the net, he was kicked hard in almost the exact same place.  As the ball went back to the Brooks end Zach lay on the field rolling around in pain.  It took everything I had to keep myself from running onto the field to see him.  When the final whistle blew I did run out there.  As I reached Zach I inadvertently touched his leg exactly where he was kicked and it appeared I was meeting a character from the Exorcist!!  Such language from my Zach??????  I guess it really hurt.  I helped him over to the bench with assistance from Dusty and Elijah.  A cart took him over to the trainers room where it was determined he had a deep thigh bruise.  Nothing serious thankfully.  

A side note here, that goal has moved Zach up to 6th place in scoring in the ISL.  He's tied with Jon, one of the Brooks captains!!  Certainly a great accomplishment for a Sophomore!

11/5/10 - Brooks 3 - Nobels 3 - Official Game Review

Boys 1st Team Rallies For Tie

This exciting and high level match featured the wildest of finishes seen in many  a year. Brooks, playing its third competitive match in five days, carried the play to the league leading visitors in the opening half hour. A number of golden opportunities went by the boards as the Brooksians couldn't find their finishing touch. Against the run of play, the estimable Nobles offense, as they have done throughout the season, found two impressive goals to leave the home side down two at the half. 

Continuing to carry the play out of the halftime, Sam Milbury buried a ball from Andres Burbank-Crump and Brooks looked to have life again. But the resilient Nobles side finished service from a free kick deep in the Brooks end only five minutes later. The home side was crumbling from tired legs and deflated wills. Then, out of nothing in the 87th minute,  Jon Stronach, brilliant all day, took a beautifully slotted pass from Alex Vozzella and made no mistake with the goalkeeper as he finished to the side netting. Now play was furious end to end, as both sides sensed the outcome was still in doubt. In the 89th minute Brooks found multiple attempts in the Nobles goalmouth when, finally, Zach Vieira skied to reach a ball and head it over the keeper. Suddenly, the match was tied and both teams furiously struggled to possess and get forward. The ninetieth minute, extended through stoppage time, saw both teams attacking as the matched stretch from end to end. Brooks had three tremendous runs at the Nobles goal but were thwarted by last second defensive stops. Neither team could find the winner in an incredibly emotional and hectic final minute. It was grand soccer entertainment, and the Brooksians, if disappointed in the result, can take great pride in the heart that was shown on the day. Certainly their coaches do exactly that.