CONCORD, Mass. - Middlesex hosted Thayer on a crisp fall afternoon where the foliage was popping with brilliant colors, and the fans were treated to an entertaining and competitive match for the Family Weekend festivities.

Thayer was led throughout the match by the dangerous attacking of Khaio Pelegrini and the midfield linking of Oliver Axon. Pelegrini had the best scoring chance for Thayer in the waning moments of the first half, but his shot dragged just wide of the back post from the left side.

The only goal of the first half was scored by Adriano Valmora (Montreal, Quebec), who benefited from a pressing tackle from Baze Kalisa (Concord, Mass.) that led to a transition opportunity against the center backs. After some twisting and turning, Valmora cut a shot against the grain and into the back of the net.

Thayer took the initiative in the closing 15 minutes of the first half and had the majority of the ball in the Middlesex defensive half. The hosts counted themselves lucky to have a slim halftime advantage.

The first 15 minutes of the second half leveled out, but the game turned on an excellent solo effort from Chris DeMorais (Wakefield, Mass.). DeMorais collected a throw-in on the right side in the final third and proceeded to beat three defenders on the dribble before poking the ball past the onrushing keeper for his first career Middlesex goal.

Thayer answered back within six minutes, thanks to some aggressive pressure from Jackson Randall in the midfield that led to an awkward high ball that was pounced on by Declan Bergen in the box to finish from the left side to make the scoreline 2-1.

Middlesex's Will McCarthy (Concord, Mass.)  and Quinn Falvey (Winchester, Mass.) did a nice job of containing the Thayer pressure in the second half until Valmora added a second goal
from a left-footed set piece that he curled over the wall and into the net.

In the final minute, Falvey cleared a direct ball to an onrushing Matt Oh (Cresskill, N.J.). Oh still had a lot to do against the two retreating center backs, but he used his body well to seal the primary defender and punched the ball around the onrushing keeper to round out the score at 4-1.

It was a flattering and deceiving score line, as Thayer was a team who played with great organization, constant counterattacking threat, and collective self-belief. Middlesex managed the game well and the key to victory, besides Valmora's brace, was the strong defending from De Morais, Falvey, McCarthy, and Luis Lugo Canales (Monterrey, Mexico).

Middlesex is back in action on Wednesday when they host Nobles at 3:30 PM on Herter Turf Field.