Boys' Varsity Soccer News

Fall Sports Awards

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:32:40 GMT

Cameron Wright accepts the team's Most Improved Player award from Coaches Harrington and Jarcho at the fall sports awards dinner

Austin Ahimbisibwe accepts the Randall Claire Stevens award, given to a member of the boys' varsity soccer team who, throughout the season, showed perseverance, dedication, enthusiasm and above all a total love for the sport, traits that Randall exhibited while a member of the VA Varsity soccer team

Vincent Flanagan accepts the team's Ole Petter Worsoe award, going to the boys' varsity soccer player who through leadership, sportsmanship, and competitiveness has contributed the most to the spirit and success of the team

Boys Soccer Finishes Season With a Loss to KUA

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:00:22 GMT

Vermont Academy lost a tough game to Kimball Union Academy on Saturday, as Vermont’s possession game was thwarted by quick and productive counter-attacks from KUA.

The visitors scored quickly to start the game. The speed of KUA’s forwards showed as a lone striker outran the VA defense on a through-ball and poked the ball past freshmen goalkeeper Nate Antesberger with only two minutes gone from the game. KUA scored two goals in each half, despite some great saves from Antesberger and a good game overall. Vermont showed difficulty in finishing their chances in the offensive half, and lady luck would not smile on them. The black and orange possessed the ball well and displayed a good passing game, but on this day they weren’t the better team.

The game was the last of the season for Vermont Academy, and dropped them to a final record of 5-9-1.

Playing in their last soccer game for Vermont Academy were captain Vincent Flanagan, captain Brendon Leeming, captain TJ Yoon, Dylan Kelsey, Herve Mudahakana, Ryuichi Ohtaka, and Ian Pattison.

Vermont Academy 0, Kimball Union Academy 4

Vermont Academy – 14 shots, 14 saves, 2 corner kicks

Kimball Union Academy – 29 shots, 3 saves, 4 corner kicks

Wildcats Fall to Hoosac 0-1

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:40:42 GMT

The boys’ varsity soccer team lost a disappointing road game this Wednesday, November 09, 2011 to a hard-working Hoosac team despite controlling the ball for much of the game and putting consistent pressure on the Hoosac defense.

Despite controlling the pace of the game and possessing the ball throughout the first and second half, the Wildcats were unable to find the back of the net. A determined Hoosac defense did a good job of clogging the center of the field, deflecting a number of shots and disrupting Vermont’s offense by congesting a small field. As the Wildcats became increasingly frustrated at seeing all 28 of their shots go begging, Hoosac steadily gained confidence throughout the game with occasional transition play and fast breaks.

As the Hoosac attack began to gain some momentum, Vermont was helped by newcomer Nathan Antesberger in net. The freshman, playing his first game with the varsity squad, made a number of very good decisions to cut off the Hoosac attack, relying on good positioning and calm nerves. Nevertheless, Hoosac earned the only goal of the game 14 minutes into the second half on a corner kick. After a scramble in front of the net, a Hoosac player headed a rebound just under the crossbar for the game-winning goal.

The Wildcats continued to push forward with the ball in the waning minutes of the game, but were unable to put together a successful attack. The will look to recover from a frustrating outing this Saturday, November 12, as they host rival Kimball Union Academy in the final game of the season.

Vermont Academy 0, Hoosac 1

Vermont Academy – 28 shots, 10 saves, 7 corner kicks

Hoosac – 8 shots, 8 saves, 2 corner kicks

VA Falls to Proctor Academy

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:01:15 GMT

The boys’ varsity soccer team saw their hopes of a playoff berth fall away yesterday when they travelled to Proctor Academy and lost 3-2. The game was scheduled as a home game, but lingering snow in Saxtons River forced the team to the road.

V.A. came out lethargic, but still dominated much of the play in the first twenty minutes or so of the game. The first goal came for Vermont Academy when a cross from Jon Lesser found Vincent Flanagan in the box for a well-hit volley. Vince’s shot was blocked, but the rebound fell to leading scorer Austin Ahimbisibwe, who tucked the ball into the top of the net.

The Wildcats settled into a possession game, but couldn’t match the intensity of Proctor’s players. Proctor tested Vermont repeatedly with long balls to their forwards, and it was just a matter of time before some of these fast counter attacks led to a goal. The first came minutes before the end of the first half, and at the break, it was 1-1.

Four minutes into the second half, a penalty kick was called against the Wildcats for a push in the box, and Proctor gained the lead. Another fast goal for Proctor came just 5 minutes later.

Nearing the end of the game, Vermont put together a few chances, with Ahimbisibwe missing the net, and Cameron Wright putting a ball off the post. Finally, freshman Sebastian Wu raised the hopes of the team with 16 minutes left in the game, with a calm, left-footed finish off of a centering pass from Dylan Kelsey.

Despite continued effort, the Wildcats could not find the tying goal, and the final whistle signaled the end of the game and of Vermont’s chance at a spot in the playoffs.

The team does not have a game on Saturday, but travels to Hoosac School on Wednesday, and then finishes their season against KUA a week from Saturday.

Vermont Academy 2, Proctor Academy 3

Goals by Austin Ahimbisibwe (10), assisted by Vincent Flanagan (1) and Jon Lesser (2); Sebastian Wu (1), assisted by Dylan Kelsey (1)

Vermont Academy – 11 shots, 6 saves, 3 corner kicks

Proctor Academy – 10 shots, 5 saves, 3 corner kicks

Wildcats Fall to Winchendon, 2-4

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:16:00 GMT

The boys’ varsity soccer team struggled early in its first match back from long weekend, giving up three early goals against a speedy Winchendon squad this Wednesday, October 26. Despite battling back in the second half with two goals, the Wildcats were unable to close the gap before the final whistle was blown, falling below .500 for the first time all season with the 2-4 loss.

The visiting Wildcats were caught off guard early in the game when a penalty kick was called less than three minutes into play. Despite a solid effort from goalkeeper Andrew Brown, Winchendon’s captain slotted home a well-placed penalty shot and forced the Wildcats to try to regain their composure in what was to be a frustrating afternoon. Despite a solid effort to piece together a productive attack through the middle of the field, Vermont Academy was plagued by turnovers it its defensive end throughout the first half, and Winchendon capitalized with a number of dangerous buildups on the counter-attack. Before Vermont could settle into its game, Winchendon had already put home two more goals, both on corner kicks in the 16^th and 22^nd minute, respectively.

After a frustrating first half, the Wildcats started to shift the momentum its way during the final 45 minutes of play. Led by junior Austin Ahimbisibwe, alongside senior captain TJ Yoon and freshman Cameron Wright, Vermont put consistent pressure on the Winchendon defense and finally began to test the goalie. After a series of dangerous runs and shots, the Wildcats finally got on the board when sophomore Eduardo Garcia played a direct kick into the box and Ahimbisibwe headed it home. The Wildcats continued to press forward throughout the half, but in doing so left themselves vulnerable to counter-attacks from a number of talented and athletic Winchendon forwards and midfielders. In the 24^th minute of the second half, a turnover in the midfield led to a breakaway for Winchendon, and suddenly Vermont’s deficit was back up to three goals.

Despite the unfortunate turn of events, the Wildcats continued to battle. Only five minutes after falling behind 1-4, Garcia took another free kick, this time from over 30 yards out, that found its way into the upper corner. Once again, momentum appeared to be in Vermont’s favor, but to no avail. Despite a number of opportunities in the waning minutes of play, the Wildcats were unable to pull any closer and were left to drive home having suffered a 2-4 loss.

The Wildcats look to bounce back quickly and make a final push for the playoffs as they host Cushing Academy this Saturday, October 29 at 2:30 pm.

Vermont Academy 2, Winchendon 4

Goals by Austin Ahimbisibwe (9) assisted by Eduardo Garcia (2) and Eduardo Garcia (1)

Vermont Academy – 13 shots, 5 saves, 1 corner kick

Winchendon – 19 shots, 3 saves, 4 corner kicks

Wildcats Stumble Against Holderness School

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:59:19 GMT

On Saturday, the boys' varsity soccer team put together a good performance, but fell to a strong Holderness School squad, 4-1. The loss puts the team back at .500, and leaves them some work to do in order to get into the playoffs.

The Wildcats started the game slowly, and gave up an early goal when a Holderness winger was left open at the back post and calmly finished a square ball. The first goal was only 4 minutes into the game, and Holderness struck again in the 20^th minute when a lucky bounce and a couple of misplays found Holderness with the ball in front of the net for an easy finish. Holderness added another tally 8 minutes later, and finished the first half up 3-0.

Vermont Academy kept pressing, and refused to give up. The tide of the game turned in their favor for long stretches of play. The Wildcats played a strong possession game, with Holderness counter-attacking with long balls forward and fast transitions on turnovers. The V.A. defense, already playing without suspended Eduardo Garcia, suffered a blow when captain Vincent Flanagan went down injured and did not return to the field. Still, Vermont kept up the pressure, and earned a goal back when Ryuichi Ohtaka fed a ball to Isaiah Douthwright, who calmly sent a long chip over the goalkeeper and into the top of the net. Unfortunately, Holderness answered four minutes later with their fourth goal of the contest.

Overall, it was a strong effort from the V.A. players. Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza filled in at stopper and combined well with midfielders Ryuichi Ohtaka and Ignacio Soldevilla Cabeza. Captain Brendon Leeming was strong in the back, and forward Austin Ahimbisibwe was a calming presence in the attacking half of the field. Midfielder Eamon O’Keefe was dangerous down the wings. Goalkeeper Andrew Brown played a good game, registering 9 saves in the loss.

After a 3-day break from classes and practice, the black and orange suit up on Wednesday and travel to Massachusetts to face the Winchendon School.

Vermont Academy 1, Holderness School 4

Goal by Isaiah Douthwright (2) assisted by Ryuichi Ohtaka (1)

Vermont Academy – 15 shots, 9 saves, 0 corner kicks

Holderness School – 28 shots, 6 saves, 2 corner kicks

Boys’ Varsity Soccer Tops Brewster 6-2

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:54:40 GMT

On a cold and rainy day, the boys’ varsity soccer team returned home from a long stretch of road games to host Brewster Academy this Wednesday, October 19, 2011. The Wildcats handled the tough weather conditions very well, using a combination of good ball control and speedy attack to earn a 6-2 victory.

Vermont started off strong in the first half, building dangerous offensive surges throughout the first 20 minutes. They were unable to find the back of the net, however, and as Brewster gained their footing after a long bus ride, the play leveled off as the half progressed. It wasn’t until the 32^nd minute of play that junior Austin Ahimbisibwe broke through with his first goal of the game, blasting a shot just under the crossbar to give his team a lead that they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.

Freshman Cameron Wright had the assist on Ahimbisibwe’s goal, and only six and nine minutes later, he slotted two goals of his own. Wright’s first goal was off of his own rebound, after receiving a pass from his fellow freshman Sebastian Wu on the right side. His second goal, assisted by sophomore Eduardo Garcia, was an impressive shot from the 18-yard line that snuck just inside the right post.

Brewster showed impressive resolve after falling behind 3-0 and immediately pushed the momentum of the game back toward their offensive third of the field. With under three minutes to play in the first half, Brewster capitalized on a scramble in front of the net to pull within two. They then opened the second half of play with a number of long throughballs to their forwards, eventually leading to a second goal that cut Vermont’s lead to only one.

Brewster’s second goal served as something of a wake-up call for the Wildcats, and they responded admirably with strong possession and combination play that led to a goal from Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza in the 20^th minute of the second half, and then two more goals from Ahimbisibwe at the 33^rd and 43^rd minutes, respectively, leading to a final score of 6-2.

This marks an important win for the Wildcats as they continue in their quest for playoffs. They continue to progress ever closer to putting together a complete game of soccer at a high level, and they look to continue in that direction this Saturday as they host Holderness School during Parents’ Weekend at 3:30 pm.

Vermont Academy 6, Brewster Academy 2

Vermont Academy – 25 shots, 2 saves, 4 corner kicks

Brewster Academy – 9 shots, 7 saves, 2 corner kicks

Wildcats fall to .500

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:26:59 GMT

Vermont Academy hit the road again on Saturday and finished the day down 2-0 to a strong Holderness School squad. The loss brings the Wildcats’ season record to 4-4-1.

From the opening whistle, Holderness showed their athleticism and skill. Most of the play in the first twenty minutes of the game was in the V.A. half of the field, and after only seven minutes, V.A. found themselves down a goal on the road.

Threatening skies began to rumble with thunder, and a lightning delay was called with thirty minutes left in the first half. Eventually the teams took to the field again, and Vermont Academy began to find their feet a bit. Unfortunately, poor communication on defense left a Holderness forward with an easy tap-in goal only five minutes after the restart. The Wildcats still had some fight in them, though, and continued to press forward.

The second half had the black and orange putting pressure on Holderness – winning balls, and keeping possession in the Holderness half of the field. The best chance of the game came from senior TJ Yoon, whose drive from just outside the 18 yard box was tipped just wide by the goalkeeper. Although they produced several good chances in the second half, they were unable to get a goal back.

At the other end of the field, junior Andrew Brown earned player of the game honors for Vermont Academy for the second week in a row. He controlled his box and made 13 saves in the losing effort.

Vermont Academy hosts Brewster Academy on Wednesday, and then looks forward to another try at Holderness at home on Saturday.

Vermont Academy 0, Holderness School 2

Vermont Academy – 5 shots, 13 saves, 3 corner kicks

Holderness School – 23 shots, 3 saves, 9 corner kicks

Boys’ Varsity Soccer Drops a Tough One to Cushing, 1-2

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:56:23 GMT

The boys’ varsity soccer team lost a hard-fought match at Cushing this Wednesday, October 12, after giving up the winning goal on a penalty shot with only five minutes to play. The Wildcats fought hard and controlled most of the game, but were unable to find the back of the net despite dangerous runs from the attack and creative play through the center of the field.

Vermont Academy started the game playing some of its better soccer of the year, controlling the pace of the game and finding room in behind the Cushing defenders. Excellent combination play from central midfielders Ignacio and Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza led to a number of dangerous through-balls to the likes of Isaiah Douthwright, Jon Lesser, TJ Yoon, and Austin Ahimbisibwe. The Wildcats were unable to capitalize in the first half however, and saw a number of good opportunities cut short by a hard-working defensive unit from Cushing and a solid goalkeeper.

As the first half wore on, Cushing started to gain its footing in the game and eventually started to test the VA defense. At 34 minutes into the half, Cushing capitalized on a turnover in the midfield and sent a through-ball in to their right midfielder for a one-on-one with VA goalkeeper Andrew Brown. Brown was unable to bail his defense out, and a shot into the lower corner put Cushing up 1-0 for the remainder of the half.

The second half saw more of the same from a motivated Wildcat squad. Vermont continued to press forward and played much of the second half within striking distance, while Cushing relied heavily on transition play that sent their forwards up against an athletic defensive unit of Dylan Kelsey, Brendan Leeming, Vincent Flanagan ,and Eduardo Garcia. Sixteen minutes into the second half, the Wildcats finally found their way onto the scoreboard as Kelsey made a strong run up the right side to find Ahimbisibwe streaking toward the net. Ahimbisibwe finished with a powerful shot to the back post, tying the game at 1-1.

As the game approached an end, the intensity continued to build as players from both teams tackled hard and pushed the pace of the game. With only five minutes remaining, a foul was called on VA during the scramble after a corner kick that led to a penalty shot for the Penguins. Cushing’s central midfielder slotted the shot home, giving his team the lead as the final minutes ticked off the clock. The Wildcats continued to fight hard but were unable to answer before the game ended in a loss, 1-2. Player of the game honors go to Andrew Brown, who had a number of excellent saves to keep his team in the game in the second half.

The Wildcats look to bounce back quickly from the loss as they prepare for their next big Lakes Region matchup, this Saturday, October 15 at Holderness School.

Vermont Academy 1, Cushing Academy 2

Goal by Austin Ahimbisibwe (5) assisted by Dylan Kelsey (1)

Vermont Academy – 16 shots, 8 saves, 7 corner kicks

Cushing Academy – 14 shots, 10 saves, 8 corner kicks

Vermont Academy Wins Fourth

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 21:14:00 GMT

The Wildcats took to their home field on Saturday and walked off with a 3-1 win over Dublin School on a sunny afternoon. The win brings Vermont Academy to 4-2-1 on the season.

The boys held possession throughout most of the game, and the early going saw several chances just missed or slammed off the crossbar. The deadlock was finally broken in the 16^th minute when junior Austin Ahimbisibwe fed sophomore Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza a through ball that Carlos blasted past the Dublin ‘keeper. Although V.A. had the majority of scoring chances in the first half, at the midpoint the score was 1-0. In the 74^th minute, sophomore Isaiah Douthwright pounced on a ball that was mishandled by the goalkeeper and poked the ball into the back of the net to give the black and orange a 2-0 cushion. Dublin wasn’t finished, though, and a direct kick rebounded off the Wildcats’ defensive wall and fell to a completely unmarked player, who had time to slot the ball past goalie Andrew Brown. Senior Ryuichi Ohtaka provided the insurance goal late in the game off of a nice set of passes from brothers Ignacio and Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza, which left him alone on the goalkeeper.

Overall, it was a lackluster performance from the Wildcats, but an important win for a team weakened by injuries. Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza earned player of the game honors for his relentless work, especially covering for teammates caught out of position throughout the game.

Vermont Academy goes back on the road this week, travelling to Cushing Academy on Wednesday and Holderness School on Saturday.

Vermont Academy 3, Dublin School 1

Goals by Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza (2) assisted by Austin Ahimbisibwe (2), Isaiah Douthwright (1) unassisted, and Ryuichi Ohtaka (2) assisted by Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza (3) and Ignacio Soldevilla Cabeza (3)

Vermont Academy – 22 shots, 6 saves, 1 corner kick

Dublin School – 8 shots, 12 saves, 0 corner kicks

Boys’ Soccer Falls to KUA

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:05:24 GMT

The varsity boys’ soccer team finished a series of road games this Wednesday, October 05, 2011 with a trip to Kimball Union Academy. Despite a strong effort by Vermont Academy, KUA proved too much for the visiting team, handing VA its worst loss of the season, 8-0.

As the game got underway, VA kept pace with KUA throughout the middle of the field. Both teams displayed good poise on the ball as they tried to establish possession. Vermont struggled to press forward with any dangerous runs or combinations, however, and saw its best chances – a breakaway by senior TJ Yoon and a rebound shot from sophomore Eduardo Garcia – go wanting. KUA, on the other hand, put together repeated attacks up the middle of the field, forcing the Vermont midfield to track back and pulling the defense out of position at times. KUA got its first goal roughly 15 minutes into the game, and added two more by halftime.

In the second half, Vermont continued to work hard, but fatigue set in as KUA used the space on its large turf field. KUA continued to find holes in VA’s defense and midfield, slotting an additional five goals before full time.

The VA Wildcats look to get things back on track this Saturday, October 8, as they host Dublin School for their first home game in two weeks.

Wildcats Rebound Against Proctor Academy

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:30:58 GMT

On Saturday the boys varsity soccer team earned their third win of the season on a rainy, cold day at Proctor Academy. Coming off a loss on the road to Tilton School, the game was an important turn around for the team.

From the start, Vermont Academy showed that they were there to play. The wet grass and soft ground made it hard to play a skilled, beautiful game, and it was clear that effort and heart were going to make the difference. The Wildcats put tremendous pressure on Proctor’s players, forcing misplays and mistakes. Eventually the pressure paid off with goals for the black and orange.

In the twelfth minute, good ball movement to switch the field sent junior Jon Lesser sprinting down the right side with the ball. His cross into the area skipped dangerously through, and found sophomore Patrick Bartolomucci waiting on the far post. Pat drove a hard shot off the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Ten minutes later, junior Ignacio Soldevilla Cabeza sent a perfect through ball to senior Tae Jun Yoon. In alone on the goalkeeper, TJ calmly slotted the ball into the side netting for his first goal of the year.

Proctor generated some chances of their own, with runs down the side and occasional through balls. V.A.’s defense coordinated well, though and snuffed out most attempts on goal. Goalkeeper Andrew Brown showed great hands and positioning in dealing with several crosses and holding the ball well.

Just before the end of the half, a series of unlucky bounces and slips got Proctor a goal of their own, and the score was 2-1 Vermont Academy at the break.

The second half was a mirror of the first, with the Wildcats pressuring and frustrating Proctor. Six minutes into the second, freshman Cameron Wright sent a searching ball through the penalty area, which found Jon Lesser waiting to bury the chance at the back post. Jon beat his man to the ball and side-footed a solid shot into the back of the net. The score held until the final whistle, with Vermont Academy walking away with a 3-1 score.

Captains Brendon Leeming and Vincent Flanagan put in fine performances at the back, as did Salty Pennington Fitzgerald before a clash of heads sent him out of the game. Patrick Bartolomucci was dangerous all day, and filled in well on defense after Salty left the game. Ian Pattison was an important spark for the team, playing several positions on the day. The freshman duo of Sebastian Wu and Cameron Wright were a constant nuisance to the Proctor defense, while brothers Carlos and Ignacio Soldevilla Cabeza controlled the middle of the field. Jon Lesser was dangerous on the wing all day.

The player of the game, however, was sophomore Eduardo Garcia. Eddie took the game over with his work rate, his ability to hold the ball, and his passing. From the start, Proctor knew that this was Eddie’s game, and he earned foul after foul without complaint or retaliation.

Vermont Academy hopes to bring the same intensity to Meriden, NH on Wednesday, when they face their rivals Kimball Union Academy.

Vermont Academy 3, Proctor Academy 1

Goals by Patrick Bartolomucci (3) assisted by Jon Lesser (1), TJ Yoon (1) assisted by Ignacio Soldevilla Cabeza (2), and Jon Lesser (1) assisted by Cameron Wright (1)

Wildcats Struggle Against Tilton on the Road

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:21:00 GMT

The boys’ varsity soccer team had a tough afternoon at Tilton School this Wednesday, September 28, 2011, suffering a 1-5 loss at the hands of a very fit and well-organized Tilton squad.

While the Wildcats were able to control the ball for the majority of the game, they had trouble pushing the play deep into the offensive half and challenging Tilton’s goalkeeper. The Rams, on the other hand, were consistently dangerous with counter-attack play, springing their forwards after every Wildcat turnover. After repeated runs deep into their offensive end, the Rams scored their first goal 25 minutes into the game. They then pushed the score to 2-0 just before halftime with a rebound shot from outside the 18-yard box that snuck just under the crossbar, beating a retreating goaltender Michail Eggelhoefer.

In the second half of the game, Tilton continued to out-hustle the Wildcats, winning 50-50 balls in the middle of the field and sending dangerous passes forward to their offense. The Wildcats were unable to match Tilton’s energy level, giving up a third goal only 11 minutes into the second half.

One highlight for the Wildcats came 13 minutes into the second half, when sophomore Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza played a throughball to junior forward Austin Ahimbisibwe, who struck a firm shot into the lower right corner of the net to bring the score to 1-3. Vermont was unable to build any momentum, however, and the Rams eventually answered back with two quick goals in the waning minutes of the game.

The Wildcats look to recover from their first loss of the season as they travel to Proctor Academy this Saturday, October 1^st at 2:30 pm.

Vermont Academy 1, Tilton School 5

Goal by Austin Ahimbisibwe (4) assisted by Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza (1)

Vermont Academy – 6 shots, 6 saves, 1 corner kicks

Tilton School – 21 shots, 1 saves, 7 corner kicks

Wildcats tie New Hampton

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:45:19 GMT

On Saturday the boys varsity soccer team hosted New Hampton School for a humid afternoon game and finished the 90 minutes with two goals apiece. The tie puts Vermont Academy at 2-0-1 for the season.

The Vermont Academy boys came out slow at the start, and weren’t prepared for the pressure and speed of an attacking New Hampton team. In the second minute of the game, a through ball split the VA defense and sent their #10 through alone on goalkeeper Andrew Brown. He buried the chance, and served notice that it was not going to be an easy day for the Wildcats’ defensive corps.

The boys reacted well under pressure and started carrying the game back into New Hampton’s end of the field. Their efforts were rewarded in the 22^nd minute, when junior Austin Ahimbisibwe was able to turn with a bouncing ball and strike a hard, swerving shot past the surprised New Hampton goalkeeper. It was a fantastic goal from 25 yards out that left the ‘keeper without a chance.

Ahimbisibwe’s goal energized the team and put New Hampton on their heels a bit. Sophomore Patrick Bartolomucci repeatedly found space on the left side of the field and showed himself to be a threat. In the 32^nd minute, Bartolomucci beat his man and came out of the corner and in on the goal. With a strong individual effort, he fought his way through another defender and the goalkeeper to tap the ball into the back of the net.

Both teams continued to fight hard, with many shots drifting wide or high on both ends of the field. In the 41^st minute New Hampton evened the score at two.

The second half saw the game slow down a bit as fatigue set in, and both teams found space to take advantage against tired defenders. Everyone sensed that the game could go either way, but neither team could find the back of the net. In the end, the well-fought game ended at a tie.

Sophomore Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza earned player of the game honors for his skilled and tenacious play in the midfield. He controlled play with deft touches and excellent movement and link-up play with his teammates.

On Wednesday, Vermont Academy travels to Tilton, NH for a match against a traditionally strong Tilton School. This game begins an important stretch of road games for the boys, with games at Proctor Academy and Kimball Union Academy.

Vermont Academy 2, New Hampton School 2

Goals by Austin Ahimbisibwe (3) assisted by Ignacio Soldevilla Cabeza (1), and Patrick Bartolomucci (2) assisted by Austin Ahimbisibwe (1)

Vermont Academy – 13 shots, 8 saves, 4 corner kicks

New Hampton School – 18 shots, 9 saves, 5 corner kicks

Boys Varsity Soccer Improves to 2-0 Against NMH

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:38:30 GMT

The boys’ varsity soccer team defeated the NMH JV team this Wednesday, earning a 2-0 victory on the road. The Wildcats got off to a fast start, controlling the ball from kickoff and building dangerous attack through the middle and up both wings. Junior Jon Lesser was particularly active on the right wing, combining with central midfielders Ryuichi Ohtaka and Ignacio Soldevilla to bring the ball up the right side of the field. Vermont Academy’s first break of the game, however, started with sophomore Eduardo Garcia switching the point of attack with a heads up cross. He found Ohtaka open in the offensive third of the field, who then sent junior forward Austin Ahimbisibwe through for a one-on-one with the goalie. Ahimbisibwe capitalized with a calm finish into the side netting in only the eight minute.

Vermont Academy got its second break of the game only 16 minutes later, when freshman Sebastian Wu laid off a pass to sophomore defender Patrick Bartolomucci, who launched a shot that found its way just under the crossbar from over 35 yards out to put the Wildcats up 2-0.

Vermont continued to get chances throughout the rest of the game, but struggled to finish against an athletic and hard working NMH defense. On the other end of the field, the defensive unit of Garcia, Salty Pennington-Fitzgerald, Herve Mudahakana, and Brendan Leeming held steady against a number of dangerous counter-attacks. Player of the game honors go to Leeming, who has now led the defense to two consecutive shutouts.

The Wildcats hope to continue to progress as they prepare for their next match this Saturday, September 24^th, when they host New Hampton at 3:30 pm.

Boys Soccer Wins First Game of the Season

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:25:19 GMT

On Saturday, the boys varsity soccer team hosted High Mowing School to open the 2011 season. Vermont Academy started by controlling the game and putting tremendous pressure on the High Mowing goal. Unfortunately, unseen forces seemed to be protecting the back of the net, as many fine scoring opportunities were sent wide or over the crossbar.

Finally, in the 16^th minute, captain-elect TJ Yoon tapped a ball to senior Ryuichi Ohtaka, who buried the chance. The Wildcats continued to press, and the defense successfully snuffed out counterattacking chances. In the 30th minute, sophomore Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza received a ball from the right wing, collected the rebound from his first shot, and then calmly placed the ball into the net for the second goal of the contest.

The second half saw Vermont Academy continuing their dominance, but still struggling to bulge the back of Mowing’s net. Junior Austin Ahimibisibwe was a controlling force in the offensive third of the field, with good holdup work and distribution. He took his fair share of shots, as well, and was rewarded with a goal (assisted by Isaiah Douthwright) in the 62^nd minute.

Many players put in strong performances, including junior Jon Lesser running hard on the right side, senior Jordan Arzi with good positional play in the middle, and the brothers Ignacio and Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza controlling the midfield.

The player of the game, however, was sophomore Eduardo Garcia. From his position at stopper, he roamed all over the field, controlling the pace and direction of the game. At the same time, he always found himself back in defensive position. Eddie put in a fine performance and outran everyone on the field.

Vermont Academy travels to Northfield Mount Hermon School on Wednesday hoping to build on the success of their first win.

Vermont Academy 3, High Mowing School 0

Goals by Ryuichi Ohtaka (TJ Yoon), Carlos Soldevilla Cabeza (unassisted), Austin Ahimbisibwe (Isaiah Douthwright)

Vermont Academy – 40 shots, 0 saves, 6 corner kicks

High Mowing School – 1 shot, 14 saves, 1 corner kick

Boys’ Soccer Ties Governor’s Academy in Final Scrimmage Before Season Opener

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 02:55:50 GMT

The boys’ soccer team met Governor’s Academy in Groton, MA this Wednesday, September 14 for its final scrimmage before opening the regular season at home this Saturday, September 17 against High Mowing School. The Wildcats battled to a 2-2 tie, showing marked improvement since their last outing and coming ever closer to playing a complete game at full speed.

After a slightly chaotic beginning to the game, Vermont Academy began to take control of the ball, with good combination play through the middle of the field from seniors TJ Yoon and Ryu Ohtaka, along with junior Ignacio Soldevilla, among others. The first break of the game came when sophomore Eduardo Garcia played a perfectly timed pass over the top to Junior Austin Ahimbisibwe, who finished with a calm shot into the side netting for the first goal of the day. Governor’s Academy answered shortly after, however, scoring an equalizer off a rebound inside the 6-yard box before ending the first half tied at 1-1.

In the second half, the Wildcats continued to control the flow of the game, with particularly dangerous runs coming from junior Jon Lesser, and poise and stability in the middle of the field from sophomore Carlos Soldevilla. After an impressive series of passes up the field, Ahimbisibwe was fouled just inside the Governor’s Academy 18-yard box, earning a penalty shot, which Garcia placed neatly into the corner of the net to give Vermont the 2-1 edge. Governor’s Academy then answered with a penalty shot of its own, ending the game with a 2-2 tie.

The Wildcats look to continue to build fitness and momentum as they prepare for their home opener against High Mowing this Saturday at 2:30 pm.

Boys Soccer Falls to Deerfield Academy in Saturday's Scrimmage

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 02:58:00 GMT

The boys varsity soccer team played their second scrimmage of the season on Saturday, and fell 4-0 to Deerfield Academy. Although the Wildcats gave up a 13^th minute goal, the match was a fairly even one through the first 45 minutes of play. At halftime the score was 1-0. The team began to slow in the second half, however, and Deerfield put the scrimmage away.

Performances of note included Brendon Leeming ’12, who held the defense together with good communication and coverage, and Eduardo Garcia ’14 who put in a strong defensive performance and kept running hard throughout the game. Vermont Academy had several attempts on the Deerfield goalkeeper, with some of the best chances coming from Isaiah Douthwright ‘14, Ryuichi Ohtaka ‘12, and Austin Ahimbisbwe ‘13. Goalkeeper Andrew Brown ’13 played a strong game and registered 10 saves in the loss.

The team has a week off to prepare for their first game of the 2011 season – a Saturday match at home against High Mowing.

Wildcats Open Season with a Strong Performance Vs Bellows Falls HS

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:07:00 GMT

The Vermont Academy varsity boys' soccer team opened its season with a friendly scrimmage against neighbors Bellows Falls High School. The Wildcats earned an 8-0 victory, with scoring contributions coming from five different players, including three newcomers to the Vermont Academy squad.

VA was anchored by a number of strong defensive performances from returning veterans on the varsity squad, including senior captain Vincent Flanagan and seniors Brendan Leeming and Salty Pennington-Fitzgerald. This defensive unit, along with newcomers Eduardo Garcia at stopper and Andrew Brown in net, earned its first shutout of the season by controlling the ball against a hardworking Bellows Falls side.

Scoring for the Wildcats came primarily from junior Austin Ahimbisibwe, who had four goals in his debut at VA. Also netting one goal apiece in their debut as Wildcats were PG Ian Pattison and freshman Sebastian Wu. Returning veterans Jon Lesser and TJ Yoon rounded out the scoreline for VA, each contributing an additional goal.

Being the first time on the field together as a complete squad, Vermont showed a good deal of chemistry through the middle of the field. With impressive skill and composure coming from midfielders Ryuichi Ohtaka, Ignacio Soldevilla, Magdalene Blakeson, Jordan Arzi, and a number of others, the Wildcats controlled much of the game. With a number of other players able to contribute positive minutes, the Wildcats were able to sustain this control despite playing against an extremely fit and hardworking team.

The Wildcats look to build on the momentum from this first scrimmage as they prepare for their next big test, a home scrimmage against Deerfield this Saturday, September 10 at 1:00 pm.

Pre-Season Gets Underway

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:16:23 GMT

The 2011 season got off to a promising start today, with over 30 students taking the field to try out for varsity boys soccer. Captain Vincent Flanagan '12 and new head coach Simon Jarcho put the boys through an afternoon conditioning session, and an evening meeting helped define the team goals and attitude for the season. With the first scrimmage less than two weeks away, there is a lot of work to do, but the skills and talents of new and returning players are an encouraging sign for the coming season.