In the traditional October Friday Zebra Derby, the Middlesex boys' soccer team let a strong performance slip into a lost opportunity as they let the Groton boys squeak out a 2-2- draw with a dramatic deflection goal in the 89^th minute.

The first half started well for Middlesex as junior Brian Powers headed home a Sean Pensavalle service for the 1-0 lead in the 9^th minute of play.  Middlesex took control of the half with solid possession and passing play while limiting Groton to long range efforts from outside of the box.  This changed when the Middlesex back line gifted an equalizing goal in the 37^th minute when a long throw in saw both Middlesex center backs go for the ball and then the keeper and wingback mis-communicate on the clearance to allow an easy tap in to knot the score at 1-1.. 

Just five minutes into the second half, a bouncing ball fell right to James Sanderson's feet on the right side of the net but his open shot was rushed and he missed the gaping frame.  Middlesex regained the lead in the 57^th minute as Sean Pensavalle hammered a free kick on net and forced the keeper to offer a loose rebound for fellow senior captain Teddy Rausch to volley home with power.  It was Pensavalle's fifth assist on the season and Middlesex was in control of the match for the time being.  That changed in the final 20 minutes however, as Middlesex grew tentative and the attacking midfielders and forward could not work hard enough to retain possession.  With just a minute left on the clock, Groton was given a free kick from 20 yards out that ricocheted through the crowd and nestled into the back of the net for the 2-2 final.

It was a cruel result for Middlesex who were left with the lesson of how to finish off a game when in the lead.  A point on the road is not a poor result, but sometimes when two teams draw there is one team who celebrates and one team who is disappointed at a squandered opportunity.