2021 ISL Match Report
Date:  10/15/2021
Home Team:             Groton           
Away Team:              Middlesex
Score (H-A):             1-2
Goals (Assists)-        Home:             #9 Daniel Burnham (53', Penalty Kick)               
                                    Away:             #8 Jake Zaas (18', Assist #6 George Lin)
                                                            #14 Aarav Mehta (66', Assist #10 Yared Mc Donald)      
Goalkeeping-             Home:            Jack Christiansen (90', 2 GA)
                                    Away:            Aidan George (90', 1 GA)
Cardings-                   Home:             None
                                    Away:             None
Notes:            
It was another fall classic in the storied history of Groton v Middlesex Friday matchups in front of a well-deserved three-day Fall Long Weekend.  The hosts were up for the test and their midfield of Burnham and Travis were a handful throughout the match, while Osric King worked hard up top and created dangerous chances on the counter for Groton.  After an initial trend of back and forth, Middlesex got on the scoreboard first when George Lin played a ball in behind the Groton backline that eluded the retreating defender before Jake Zaas pounced and punched the ball into the back of the net.  The rest of the first half saw Groton grow in energy and the halftime whistle gave both sides a chance to regroup. 
It was Groton who struck first in the second half, as Osric King was sprung down the left channel and into the penalty area ahead of the retreating Middlesex defender whose legs caught King from behind.  It was a clear penalty awarded by the referee and Daniel Burnham sent the Middlesex keeper the wrong way with a solid finish to knot the score at 1-1 in the 53^rd minute.  Just eight minutes later, King flicked a cross on to the near post as the game became a stretched, end-to-end affair.  Then in the 66^th minute, the pivotal moment of the game happened.  George Lin won the ball on the right and played forward into Aidan Falvey who sprung Yared McDonald in one-on-one with the last defender.  McDonald was brought down just outside the box, but the referee allowed play to continue because he was in an advantageous position.  After regaining his feet, McDonald slotted a square ball to an unmarked Aarav Mehta at the penalty spot who buried the ball with aplomb.  Groton continued to press and Aidan George had to tip a knuckling drive from Jack Travis over the bar in the 90^th minute to preserve the win for Middlesex.  In the end, it was an epic, though sloppy, battle of the two zebra schools, played fairly and with a great deal of intensity.  For Middlesex, Zach Miles, Aidan Falvey, Jack Staples, and Julian Paton were unsung heroes who put great effort into the victory.  Congratulations to both sides for a well-deserved long weekend.