Gunga falls to Mustangs
Andover, MA - On a beautiful fall New England afternoon, the Big Blue faced off against Milton, consistently one of the top programs in New England soccer and a 2022 Class-A tournament finalist. Perennially well-coached and well-organized, Milton proved a great test for Andover’s early season.
The opening sequence of the match consisted of Andover and Milton trading blows of possession, particularly in attempting to build out of the back. Milton pressed Andover’s back line well, relying on a combination of patience and a smart midfield rotation to force Andover to the wings and over the top. Alfred Debah’s (2025) dynamism as Milton’s forward was tough to match throughout the 90 minutes, but the Big Blue’s centerbacks Garrett Holman (2024) and Sebastian Mejia-Rivera (2025) held their line well. Jack Alexander (2025) proved heroic once again between the pipes for the Big Blue, coming up with several startling saves to deny Milton some great scoring opportunities.
The midfield proved a battleground in a very physical match, and Ellis Denby (2025) commanded the middle of the pitch with strength and composure on the ball. Alex Torrens (2025), playing holding mid on the day, was a stalwart presence in front of Andover's back line, pressing Milton's attacking mids and winning a series of pivotal turnovers. Relentless pressing, too, from the Big Blue’s Kai Myles (2027) and Paul Gichana (2025) led to productive turnovers for Andover’s play forward, but Milton’s defensive line remained tough to crack on transitions.
In the second half, the game opened up more, leading to both teams throwing numbers forward to create chances. Ten minutes into the half, Milton broke the deadlock by capitalizing on a free kick outside of Andover’s box, the ball pinging around the six before Milton hammered the ball into the net. Andover dug deep in their response, and 15 minutes later, a quick counter through the midfield allowed Mark Nelson (2025) to slot a delightful through-ball for Kai Myles to run on to. Kai still had a great deal of work to do, but with a last-minute, slick feint around Milton’s center back, he was able to find just enough breathing room to crack the ball into the back of the net.
The final 20 minutes of the game proved exhilarating, with both teams playing at a breakneck pace to find the inch or two that would decide the game. Liam Rorke (2024) and Spencer Madge (2025) gave some great shifts at the end of the match on the wings for Andover, bombing up and down the sideline offensively and defensively. Nearing the end of the game, players’ legs on both teams turned to muffin batter, with fatigue and cramps setting in. Milton kept knocking on the door, though, and they were awarded a penalty late in the match. A cool penalty put Milton up 2-1, and Andover couldn’t find the solution in the final minutes of play.
The Big Blue continues their campaign against a Loomis Chaffee this Friday under the lights at Phelps Stadium. Onwards!