Hard-Fought Classic New England Soccer
Andover tied St. Sebastian’s in a thrilling 3-3 tie in Phelps Stadium on Wednesday. The visiting team, a strong Class A opponent from the ISL, was extremely well-organized on the day, putting together the best defensive pressing that Andover has seen this season, a testament to their team’s discipline and good coaching. They were also very dynamic heading forward, generating chances through the midfield to a very threatening set of strikers.
Andover opened the scoring against the run of play in the 9th minute with Camden Willems (2024) sending a surging ball forward from the backline to an onrushing Kai Mayles (2027), who tidily sidestepped the keeper and passed the ball into an open net.
St. Seb’s punched back a minute later with a great set-piece delivery from 20 yards out, not to be outdone by a strong header at the back post that rocketed past Andover’s keeper Jack Alexander (2024). The visiting team had great energy from the first whistle, energy that, at times, Andover found difficult to match.
The weather was as temperamental as Andover’s play, with the hosts struggling to string together passes in the midfield. St. Seb’s earned the lead with 13 minutes to go in the first period after their striker, Jack Mulka (2024) got the better of his man on the edge and found a wide open Seb’s player at the top of the six to slot home the visitors’ second. St. Sebs found their third goal not long after after a defensive error led to an opportunity to hit a shot from far out over Alexander.
Down 3-1 at the half, Andover knew they had to change up their game plan to get back in it. Opting to stretch Sebs’ shape by playing more direct, the hosts started the second half with much better energy and play heading forward. Julian Gravereaux (2024) and Garrett Holman (2024) were instrumental, as center backs, in orchestrating balls forward that Andover could get on the end of.
The hosts were rewarded for their efforts when Sebastian Mejia-Rivera (2025) made a surging run forward to break Seb’s lines, before finding Ellis Denby (2024), who would combine with a one-two with his fellow midfielder Zane Matraji (2024) behind Sebs’ center backs. Denby, with just enough daylight to get a shot off, slotted the finish home.
For the rest of the game, the two opponents battled back and forth on first and second balls. Gravereaux was heroic at center back, challenging every header, and Garrett Holman kept everyone organized in front of him. Alex Torrens (2024) found his groove as the game continued, winning pivotal balls in the midfield to keep play heading forward. Matraji was a dynamic force between the lines for Andover, committing Sebs’ defenders before finding his passes, destabilizing the very disciplined defensive shape of the opposition. Spencer Madge (2025), playing left back, played well on both sides of the ball, and Paul Gichana (2025) and Kai Myles (2027) were dynamic on the left and up top, respectively. Raf Kasumov (2024) and Camden Willems (2024) never lost hope, either, taking on Sebs’ disciplined outside backs throughout the match. Marc Nelson (2025) also put in a good shift on the edge for the Big Blue.
Not losing trust in one another throughout the match, with less than 3 minutes to go, Andover found a final break after Holman won a header off a defensive clearance to find Kasumov in the middle of the pitch. Kasumov settled the ball well, playing Denby inbetween Seb’s center and outside back. With the roar of the crowd as a backdrop, Denby did what Denby does, slotting home his second and Andover’s tying goal to end the game at 3-3.
Andover marches on against High Mowing on Wednesday before taking on the #1 team in New England, Northfield Mount Hermon, on Saturday. We hope to see you there.