An uncharacteristic second half led to two Nobles goals and a 3-2 home loss for the Middlesex boys' varsity soccer team on Wednesday. 

The first half hour was an excellent start for Middlesex, as they moved the ball around the field, exploited the space on the width and capitalized on their first great scoring chance.  In the nominee for team goal of season, the move began with a series of passes from the back, through to the center of the park and sophomore Jivan Purutyan in the 16^th minute.  Purutyan hit a 40 yard diagonal ball from left to right that found senior captain Sean Pensavalle in space behind Nobles' left back.  Pensavalle carried the ball towards the end line and served a pacy ball in the air to the back post to find the head of sophomore Gavin Tasker who expertly headed the ball back towards the penalty spot for the onrushing junior Julian Bishop to launch a diving header into the left side of the net for the 1-0 lead.  Middlesex continued to create chances until the 29^th minute when Nobles was allowed a free service from their left side to the top of the box where a foul was committed and Morgan Cheek buried the ensuing free kick to level the score at 1-1. 

The opening of the second half was competitive until Cheek buried almost an identical free kick just eight minutes into the half.  For the next 30 minutes Nobles was allowed time and space to operate in the midfield and they broke through with their only great scoring chance in the run of play.  In the 66^th minute, Derek Acheampong broke behind the Middlesex back line and buried his one-on-one chance for the commanding 3-1 lead.  Middlesex waited until the 85^th minute to show signs of life, and freshman James Sanderson scored his team leading fourth goal of the season. The goal was the product of Sanderson's heart and hustle, as he pressured the Nobles backline into coughing the ball up and wriggled his way through two defenders before beating the Nobles keeper with a well struck side foot finish just inside the far post.  The pressure was on and Middlesex were stunned not to receive the chance to earn a point when Tasker was brought down from behind in the penalty area with no reward for his efforts to get behind the defense and create a scoring chance with just two minutes left on the clock. 

There is a quick turnaround for the Friday match up at Roxbury Latin and a great chance to bounce back from a disappointing loss.