Coming off of a successful season last year where the Kits finished 17-3-3 but lost in a stinging sectional semifinal match against New Trier, ETHS boys soccer opened up their season on Wednesday night against Hersey. The game was also Hersey’s first contest of the year after finishing last season at 8-6-3.
After a scoreless first half, with just twenty minutes left in the game, a Kits cross into the box was headed straight up into the air by a Hersey defender. Hanging in the sky for several seconds, senior attacker Joseph Sargent crashed the box, rose above a crowded field of Hersey defenders and headed the ball into the back of the net to put the Kits up 1-0. After scoring his goal, Sargent sprinted over to Kits fans, raising his arms in celebration.
“When I got that goal it felt like we had all the momentum and wanted it more,” elaborated Sargent.
Just five minutes later, though, Hersey had an open header of their own. A Wolves attacker firmly headed the ball towards the corner of the goal but Kits keeper Charlie Dillman dove to his left and deflected the ball back into the play. The rebound fell into the lap of sophomore Jakub Koziara who booted the ball into the open net, silencing the crowd.
“Their equalizer was so deflating for us,” said Sargent.
Neither team went on to score again and the game would end in a tough fought 1-1 draw, leaving both Kits players and fans disappointed.
“We don’t like ties here in E-town but there were still positives to be taken away,” said head coach Franz Calixte.
Despite the opener being many of the Kits players’ first varsity match, the team was able to dominate possession for a large portion of the game. In addition, defensively, the Kits gave up very few scoring opportunities.
At times, though, Evanston lacked the final key pass and was only able to create a handful of clear cut chances.
Despite the tie, Calixte believes that this team has the potential to go even farther than last year’s team. He thinks this year’s squad has real potential to make a deep run in the postseason.
“I know that this team will get better. All that matters is that we peak in the playoffs,” Coach Calixte pointed out.
The Kits (0-0-1) will look to pick up their first win of the season at Lake Park High School (0-0) today.
