The Middlesex boys' varsity soccer team suffered its first loss of the season, as they traveled to Milton Academy and endured a torrid finish to the first half to wind up losing 4-0. Milton showed why they are currently 5-0 with a 20-1 goal differential thus far in the season., Just five minutes into an aggressive start to the match, Milton's left back went on an untracked run from behind half field to wind up with the ball at the top of the box for an excellent finish to the far top corner to make it 1-0.
Middlesex continued to press and compete in the midfield until junior Gavin Tasker was sent in on the left side with only the keeper to beat from a challenging angle., His well struck shot went just inches wide of the far post., The match turned decisively on its head with just seven minutes to go until the halftime interval., Milton earned one of its three corner kicks on the day in the 38th minute and their midfielder whipped a near post service that wound up dropping just over the goal line and in against the run of play.
The third goal came just two minutes later as Milton sprung a quick counter and found a seam between the Middlesex defenders on the weak side and, after a clean first touch, the Milton attacker slotted the ball just under the onrushing Dan Carlson in the Middlesex net., Just three minutes after that, Milton made it 4-0, again on the counterattack., Some indecision in communication and marking, along with a fortunate bounce, presented a bouncing ball to Milton inside the Middlesex box for another clinical finish and a surprising 4-0 halftime lead after registering only six shots in the half., The efficiency and quality of the Milton attack was very impressive on the day.
After regrouping and realizing the challenges that would come in the second half, the Middlesex boys responded with a fantastic effort in the second half., There were no goals scored in the second 45 minutes, but Middlesex outshot Milton 8 to 5 in the second half to finish level with 11 shots each for the match., Heroic shifts were put in all over the field for Middlesex, who will regroup for another stern challenge at midweek, as they host a very talented Lawrence Academy, who lost in the Class B championship match on penalties last fall.
