With similar records entering Deerfield Day, both Choate and Deerfield Boys’ Varsity Soccer knew their game would be close and competitive. On Saturday, neither team managed a goal until the last ten minutes, and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.
The first half of the game consisted of the teams playing cautiously to get a feel for each other. Choate maintained possession for much of the first half, but Deerfield was able to clear the ball anytime Choate advanced near the goal. Deerfield continued this defensive style of play, resulting in little offense for Choate.
During the second half, Choate earned more scoring opportunities. Midfielders Stephen Antogiovanni ’20, who is a co-captain, and Kamal Ibrahim ’20 were able to find forwards Luc Curragh ’20 and Tife Agunloye ’21 on long crosses into the box. Choate’s forwards then launched multiple attempts at the goal, but the Deerfield goalie blocked every shot. On the other side of the field, Deerfield generated a stronger offense as well. Former Boys’ Varsity Soccer captain and current Deerfield post-graduate Brendan Kish ’19 acted as a fulcrum in midfield for Deerfield.
With ten minutes left in the game, the scoring drought finally ended. Kish crossed the ball through the Choate defense and to a Deerfield striker. The player placed the ball just outside the arms of Choate goalie Gunnar Lucuk ’22 to give Deerfield a one-goal lead.
As the referees gave five minutes of extra time, it seemed that Deerfield would run out the clock to prevent Choate from scoring. However, Agunloye received the ball on the left side of Choate’s offensive zone and pushed the ball toward the goal. Nearly out of bounds on the goal line, he chipped the ball above the Deerfield goalie to find the right corner of the goal in the final minute of the game. Agunloye saved Choate from a loss, and the game ended in a tie for the second year in a row.
Antogiovanni remained optimistic about the team’s performance. “What I learned from this team is to fight to the last second of the game, and that’s exactly what we did—scoring with about 20 seconds left in the game,” he said. “It honestly felt like a win to us.”
