The Eaglebrook Soccer Tournament

One of my favorite Fenn experiences

    Eleven teenage boys in white Jerseys stood on the damp, muddy soccer field, waiting for the high pitch tweet of the whistle. They stood there as if they were preparing to take on a big one eyed monster, not just another soccer team. The fire inside them burned hotter than ever, hot enough that the cold, wet air, and the muddy fields seemed as if they stood no chance at stopping them from their goal: an Eaglebrook tournament win. 

    The referee clomped out on the field ready to kick off the Eaglebrook championship, the only thing that stood between us and the other teams goal was was the loud tweet of the whistle. Oh, and did I mention the monstrous Fay soccer team with athletes from around the country. It appears that this would have to be a David vs Goliath story for the small, frail Fenn boys to defeat the giant Fay soccer team. The referee blew the whistle to signify the start to out 20 minute soccer game. The Fay team started off with power, easily bodying and outplaying the Fenn kids as if they were nothing. It looked like Fay was playing this game with ease so far. 

    Fast forward 10 minutes into the game, Fay 1 Fenn 0. One of the Fay soccer players, probably one of the best ninth graders in New England rocketed the soccer ball into the net. Things were not looking to good for Fenn. The ball was in Fenn’s half of the field. On of the defenders for Fenn, Sam Dean, launched the ball up the field like it had been shot out of a cannon. Luca Raffa, a midfielder for Fenn who probably has the best shot on the team, controlled the ball and blasted it into the bottom right corner. GOOOOALLLLL. Fay 1 Fenn 1, the game was tied up. Fast forward 8 minutes. Somehow the Fenn defense has man marked so hard that Fay never got a good opportunity to score. 1 minute left, all tied up. Fay has possession and dribbled the ball up the field. 3o seconds, Jack Doherty stole the ball with a slide tackle and passed it to Wade, another defender. 20 seconds, Wade dribbled the ball up and made a pass to the middle of the field. 10 seconds, the ball got deflected by a Fay player, and it went up into the air heading towards Fenn’s side of the field. 5 seconds, Sam Dean controlled the ball and took one dribble, he was wide open about 15 feet above the 18 yard box. 2 seconds left, he knew he had to shoot, he had no time left. He shot the ball and it went soaring into the air. It hit bar down and bounced into the net. The Fenn team had done the unbelievable and won a crazy underdog game. The Eaglebrook trophy was handed to the coach, Star, and the Fenn team celebrated for what must have been 20 minutes.

That’s when I woke up.