The Middlesex boy’s varsity soccer team dropped their ISL- opener at home to St. Mark’s by a score of 2-0. 

The first half started with promise for Middlesex, as they out-shot St. Mark’s and had a few chances to create scoring opportunities that did not materialize.  Freshman Gavin Tasker curled a 20 yard effort just wide of the right post in the 13^th minute, but otherwise neither team really pressured the opposing keeper.  Sophomore keeper Armando Ferreira touched a long range free kick away from the top corner in the 20^th minute to thwart St. Mark’s best scoring chance. 

After a 0-0 halftime score, Middlesex had the first good chance to score off of their own set piece service, as the second ball fell to captain Philip Skayne’s feet and after his shot was blocked the rebound fell to an open Stevie Gleason who fired his shot over the crossbar from 15 yards out.  The breakthrough came for St. Mark’s in the 60^th minute as their forward collided with a Middlesex defender and knocked both of them to the ground.  The forward landed on top of the ball and rolled over it while somehow maintaining possession to then poke the ball into the open net while still on the ground for the 1-0 lead.

In the 67^th minute Stevie Gleason won a strong challenge in the midfield to spring junior Ben Franks down the left flank.  Franks then served a back post ball to Skayne whose first time volley ran just wide of the near post.  With numbers pressed forward, St. Mark’s scored off of a loose bouncing ball in the box in the 89^th minute to seal the deserved victory. 

Junior Sam Christenfeld and senior Alex Sadie worked extremely hard in the midfield in the second half to combat the extra midfielder sent forward as St. Mark’s played with three in the back. 

The Zebras have a few days to prepare before they travel to St. Paul’s next Thursday to take on the Pelicans at 3:15pm