Berwick loses to Beaver

The Berwick Academy Boys Varsity soccer team lost to Beaver Country Day School 5-1 in Brookline, MA, on a chilly, blustery Friday afternoon.  Hopeful from their tie game earlier in the season, the Bulldogs came off the bus with a bounce in their step hoping to pull off another upset.  Those hopes were initially dashed early in the game as Beaver put two in the next before ten minutes had ticked off the clock.  Easily carrying the play from the opening whistle, the Beavers played a tight possession game, spreading the field from sideline to sideline, and passing through the backfield with ease.  Rather than pack it early, though, the Bulldogs gained some momentum and confidence, shaking off their bus legs after ten minutes to play themselves back into the game.  Stringing together some passes of their own, Berwick was anchored by central mid-fielders Brendan Tribastone and James Ordway who gathered and distributed the balls well from inside.  The always busy backfield had another solid run as Will Grant, Mark Hoyt, Nick Wurzer, and Jack McCraven stood strong against a quick and relentless attack from the Beaver strikers. 

 

Beaver struck again in the 34^th minute, and that might have spelled the end of the day for Berwick.  However, the Bulldogs showed some resolve by finally netting one against the stingy Beavers defense.  McCraven took a classic Jack set piece, bombing a drive from midfield that he landed right on Stephen Terenzio’s noggin.  Big Steve did well to fend of his tight mark, and skimmed the ball over Beaver keeper Jesse Roberts and into the net.  The Bulldogs’ level of play improved from there on out, as they continued to possess the ball better and make repeated forays into the offensive third. 

 

Beaver rounded out the scoring with two more tallies in the 59^th and 71^st minutes, the final dagger coming on a penalty kick.  Five different scorers found the mark for the Beavers, showing an impressive display of depth and strength at each position. 

 

Berwick is 4-11-2 on the season, and takes on Concord at home on Wednesday.