Berwick Shuts out Kents Hill

The Berwick Academy Boys Varsity Soccer Team beat Maine rival Kents Hill School 1-0 on Wednesday afternoon. The Huskies arrived in South Berwick ready to play right from the opening whistle, dominating possession and carrying the play early on. It took the Bulldogs ten minutes to get their cleats under them, which they finally did when midfielder Mitchel Varley found Tucker Smith through a seam in the middle of the field 25 yards out. Smith lost one defender and fired one from the top of the 18-yard line, forcing Huskies goalkeeper Declan Greene off his feet for a diving save to his right--his best of the day--to keep the score even. On the ensuing corner kick, however, junior Ryan Trotzky served a perfect one to striker Paddy Condon, which Condon headed neatly to the back of the net to open the scoring on the day. The play continued back and forth for the remainder of the opening session, though Kents Hill had the better chances. Berwick goalie Evan Ney was kept busy all afternoon, but he calmly reined in all Husky opportunities. The defensive front of John Luchsinger, Sam Faasen, Jack Benjamin and Crosby Smith held firm all day, relentlessly chasing down all Kents Hill attacks into the defensive third. Varley was the man of the match for the Bulldogs as his effort and energy were eventually contagious enough for his teammates to rally around, and the freshman starter had an impact at both ends of the field for Berwick. It was more of the same in the second half as the two teams played evenly, with Kents Hill carrying the majority of the play, although less so than in the first half. In the 61st minute, Smith lofted a right footed ball that beat Greene, only to clang harmlessly off the crossbar. Condon wreaked havoc up top all afternoon, chasing down the Kents Hill defenders and forcing them into quick decisions and tough passes. Reserve striker Zach Boston carried on much of the same when his turn came, running tirelessly after every ball that came his way. Ney continued his solid play in net, earning his third shutout on the season. Berwick is 10-4-2 on the season and welcomes EIL rival Beaver Country Day School to South Berwick for a Friday night game under the lights.