Pomfret School boys' soccer team beats Salisbury, 3-0
Some bright playing gives Griffins two wins
POMFRET — Sept. 25 The Pomfret School boys’ varsity soccer team beat Salisbury School 3-0 by starting the game “brightly and keeping the energy going," according to coach Patrick Burke.
Scoring the Pomfret goals were: 6th minute, Nick Ferrucci (assist from Nate Watson); 42nd minute, Grant Maurer; and 47th minute, Nick Ferrucci (assist from Devin Walcott). Austin Kendig had 4 saves and Javier Alonso had five.
Nick Ferrucci got the team started as in the first minute he hit the crossbar with a strike from deep.
Nate Watson would test the keeper soon after, and in the game’s 6th minute a nice combination from Gerald Gao to Fred Coulibaly to Grant Maurer set Watson down the flank who lifted a cross to the back post for Nick to head into the net.
Up 1-0 the midfield took control as Devin Walcott, Declan Chapman, Maurer, and Caleb White set the pace for the game.
Pomfret’s play was strong, getting tested by Salisbury after 30 minutes. Goalkeeper Austin Kendig controlled his box well and made some strong plays with his feet as well as a great save off a Salisbury set piece.
Pomfret got quality first half minutes from Kaya Horvath, Jerry Da, Dylan Tran, Ethan Forbes and Anson Meerbergen, Burke said.
The second goal came on a solo effort by Maurer with a powerful shot into the back of the net.
The score was 2-0 into the second half.
In the third, looking for an early goal, a foul was called on Salisbury and Walcott put a driven ball into the box that found Ferrucci on the back post. He got the final touch on the ball before the onrushing keeper and the Griffins had a 3-0 lead.
Great play came from: Van Horvath, Anson, Tareq Altayyar, Fred, Jerry, and Ferrucci and the rest.
Goalkeeper Javier Alonso dealt with every shot or cross Salisbury brought his way including a few quick shots in succession after multiple Salisbury set pieces.

Pomfret beats St. Mark’s 2-1
POMFRET — Sept. 22 the Griffins beat St. Mark’s 2-1 with goals by Grant Maurer in the 23rd minute (assisted by Kaya Horvath); and Declan Chapman in the 58th (assisted by Nate Watson). Javier Alonso Valcarcel had seven saves.
Coach Patrick Burke said, “While not the cleanest game from Pomfret, the team showed the ability to win.
 Credit is due to St. Mark’s as they worked tirelessly throughout the game and had more intensity today.”
Early in the match, with most of St. Mark’s attacks being direct, Valcarcel controlled his box well, Burke said.
“Our defense improved as the first half wore on and Eumir Rodriguez, Ryan Cho, Lawrence Viola, Gerald Gao, Ethan Forbes, and Lyle Bernard all provided strong minutes during the first half. While the middle of the field was packed today, Devin Walcott, Declan Chapman, Grant Maurer, and Caleb White worked hard throughout. In the game’s 23rd minute some nice combination play from our midfield found Kaya Horvath out wide who one touched Grant into space. Grant hit the corner of the net with a driven shot and Pomfret was up 1-0. Nate Watson, Fred Coulibaly, Cole Castro, Nick Ferrucci, Jerry Da, Van Horvath, and Dylan Tran all pitched in during the first half and while we had a few more chances to extend our lead it remained 1-0 at halftime.”
In the second Declan put Fred in behind the St. Mark’s back line a few times, Cole and Nate attacked in the channels while Grant pushed through the midfield.
Burke said the pressure paid off in the 58th minute when a ball from Gerald found Nate in space.
Nate found Declan, and Declan hit a hard driven shot that St. Mark’s keeper did not see coming.
St. Mark’s picked up their pressure in the game’s final 20 minutes and scored with four minutes remaining.

By Patrick Burke

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