South Kent School won its second New England Championship in the last three years with a 3-1 victory over Rivers School from Weston, Massachusetts Sunday at Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut. South Kent captured the Class B New England Preparatory School Soccer Association (NEPSSA) Championship in its first year playing at the Class B level.
South Kent would jump on top early, scoring two goals inside the first seven minutes of the match. After an early Jose Godoy corner kick sailed harmlessly to the back post, he sent his next effort hard and low at the near post and it found its way to Moses Watkis who finished a one-touch shot past Duncan Orlander for a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute. Two minutes later, Watkis would pounce on a rebound off a Jesse Seymour shot and would fire from close range. Although initially stopped by Orlander, the shot was too hard to handle and Watkis stuck with the play to finish the second rebound.
A wet field would benefit the Cardinal on the second goal but would hurt them later as a slip by centerback Pedro Andreoni would force him to bring down a Rivers attacker. Andreoni was issued a yellow card for the tackle and would have to come off the pitch 15 minutes into the half. The substitution would cause South Kent to make some changes and break their early momentum. An experienced team from Rivers pushed hard to get back into the match and draw closer in the 23rd minute. Massachusetts Player of the Year and All-American Charlie Rugg would smash a beautiful volley inside the near post to make the score 2-1.
Rivers would continue to try to involve Rugg as much as possible by serving balls to him continually and from every possible angle. Andreoni and fellow centerback Curtis Weir along with outside backs Jose Godoy and Khimo Harrison would do a great job limiting his chances throughout the afternoon. The field conditions and Rivers direct style would somewhat limit South Kent’s possession game but the Cardinal were still effective at creating opportunities from quick passing and balls over the top.
The match would remain 2-1 for over 60 minutes as South Kent would test Orlander and Rivers would pressure the Cardinal continually but could not get clear cut chances at goal. As Rivers centerback Cecil Jeffrey would push forward into the attack looking for the tying goal South Kent would look for the backbreaking goal. With five minutes left the Cardinal would stretch their advantage as Fabio Villa Boas hit a perfectly measured cross from the right flank that Byron Vega headed home from six yards to ease the Cardinal fans nerves.
A wonderful defensive performance from the team but especially the back line and goalkeeper Tahj Bell versus Charlie Rugg was key for the victory. Great midfield play from tri-captains Seymour, Mike Garzi, and Tim Quigley allowed the Cardinal to have the advantage in possession and pressure Rivers all over the field.
South Kent completed a historic double winning the Ray Brown Cup as Class B Western New England Regular Season Champions and the Class B New England Championship in their first year competing in Class B. The Cardinal had won the regular season title each of the last three years and the school’s first ever New England Championship in soccer in 2006 playing in Class C. South Kent finished the season with a 17-2-1 record, the best in the school’s history.
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