Groton, Mass. - Middlesex traveled to Groton for the first October match up with Lawrence Academy and faced a stern test and some significant adversity before earning a hard-fought three points. 

Lawrence came out the more aggressive and forward thinking team in the first half and pinned Middlesex in their own half for the first five minutes.  It was quite against the run of play when Middlesex's Baze Kalisa '26 deposited the ball in the back of the net from point blank range after a well weighted ball from Adriano Valmora '28. The rest of the first half was challenging for the visitors, which was compounded by a straight red card in the 35th minute for a foul outside of the penalty area by the goalkeeper that denied a clear goal scoring opportunity.  It was an easy call for the referee and one that buoyed the hopes of the home Spartans. 

The last ten minutes of the first half was quite rocky but Middlesex held on until the halftime whistle to regroup. With a slender 1-0 lead and playing 10 on 11, Middlesex shifted their system and found ways to contain the Lawrence attack while still applying pressure at appropriate moments.  It was in 17 minutes into the second half when Valmora buried a close range chance from a heady square ball by Long Nguyen '27. 

Valmora turned provider in the 88th minute once again, as he floated a set piece right onto the head of Matt Oh '29, who sprung high in the air to flick the ball into the back of the net for the 3-0 final. 

Henrick Boahen '26, Tommy Shelvey '29, Jeremiah Chappel '28 stood out in the Lawrence attack while Max LoSciuto '28 put in an exceptional defensive shift.

For Middlesex, Valmora contributed to all three goals, while Will McCarrthy '28 and Chris De Morais '29 were excellent in the back for the visitors.  Special shout out to Will Mills '28, who was a rock in the net for the last hour of shorthanded play.