The Middlesex boys’ varsity soccer team traveled to North Andover to take on the Brobdingnagian boys from Brooks.  The match proved to be a real test for the young squad from Middlesex, as Brooks took the route one approach and served lofted balls into the back post all day long and Middlesex defended long service and set pieces for the bulk of the match. 

The defense was led on the day by sparkling performances from senior Captain Philip Skayne and junior Teddy Rausch, as well as junior keeper Michael O’Keeffe who had eight saves on the day.  Solid midfield shifts were put in by the sophomore duo of Brian Powers and Daniel Parnell, as well as technical combination play from freshman Gavin Tasker and hard pressing up top from sophomore Julian Bishop.  The hero of the day however was the smallest player on the pitch, Middlesex freshman Jivan Purutyan. 

The first fifteen minutes were back and forth as Brooks and Middlesex traded set piece shots that went over the net.  In the 21^st minute a Brooks forward beat two defenders on the dribble and their attacking midfielder had his layoff shot partially blocked for Purutyan to clear off of the goal line.  The only goal for Brooks came from a set piece in the 29^th minute as their #15 ran off the left side of the wall to receive a through pass from #3 and slot it past the onrushing O’Keeffe for the deserved lead.  Middlesex was tested twice more in the next ten minutes, as O’Keeffe made a great save on #18 in the 32^nd minute and then Teddy Rausch cleared a back post corner kick off of the goal line in the 37^th minute.  Julian Bishop had Middlesex’s best chance to score in the first half as a ball fell to his feet just inside the penalty area with no pressure but his one-time shot sailed over the crossbar. 

Middlesex began the first fifteen minutes of the second half on the back foot, as Brooks had three consecutive corners in the 47^th minute and a dangerous ball back across the face of goal from a set piece that rolled out innocuously for a goal kick in the 58^th minute.  Just a minute later there was a five minute delay while awaiting a trainer as junior Stevie Gleason received a blow to the head and Middlesex regrouped at that time and took control of the midfield for the next 12 minutes.  The payoff came in the 64^th minute, as Parnell settled a ball in the midfield and started a passing move that brought Middlesex 70 yards up the field and resulted in an open look at goal for Gavin Tasker.  Tasker’s shot was on frame and saved by the Brooks keeper but the rebound fell into the path of the onrushing Purutyan who picked his head up and curled the ball into the right side net from the left side of goal to knot the score at 1-1.  Junior Ben Franks then had an open look from 20 yards skip wide of the left post after Tasker picked off a loose pass in the 68^th minute. 

The final 20 minutes saw Michael O’Keeffe make two big saves to preserve the point on the road and the backline dealt with innumerable set pieces and balls lofted forward into the Middlesex box.  The climax came with no time left in the match, as Brooks’ #3 floated a back post header over a crowd of defenders and onto the top of the crossbar and out on the final play of the match.

The Middlesex boys will be back at home on Wednesday to take on Governor’s and try to build off of the positive momentum of this excellent performance and positive result.