HBS opened their winning account with a comprehensive victory over MIT in the Boston Graduate League.
Both teams took time to adjust to the uneven field. HBS, whose game is built on neat passing, found it difficult to control the ball and with half the team running on alcohol vapor from the previous night’s party in Vermont, the game was initially messy. Nevertheless, with the defense marshaled by co-captain Mike Marty (OG) and the midfield skirmishes bossed by Ben Chatraw (OH), HBS never really looked in any trouble, but lack of width compressed the game to the middle third, and HBS struggled to create clear-cut chances. HBS came closest creating half-chances for Dwight Angelini (OB) and Santiago Marra (ND) but it looked like the half might remain scoreless when TJ Carella (OA) ran onto a pass from Josh Yguado (OF) and coolly struck a low left-footed shot into the corner of the net. 0-1 to HBS.
In the second-half HBS stretched the game and used the flanks to great effect. Brian O’Connor (OA) and Francois Dufour (OJ) were particularly effective on the left wing as HBS camped-out inside the MIT half. The pressure had to tell and after a couple of well-saved shots, Angelini found the net with a screamer to double HBS’ advantage.
After good work by Ro Diehl (OJ) and Rob Metcalf (OE) on the right wing, HBS added another when the ball was squared back for Yguado to tap in a simple chance to make it 0-3. MIT became increasingly desperate and resorted to hopeful punts forward, but every attack was snuffed out by defenders Pablo Sanders (OD), Alex Saltonstall (OC) and Chris Withers (OA), resulting in a boring day at the office for the outstanding keepers Hendrik Almstadt (NJ) and Ryan McMonagle (NE) who between them only had one save to make all game.
“All things considered we played quite well and clearly deserved to win handily”, commented Carella after the game. HBS A are back to winning ways and next face a strong Law School team in a week’s time as they seek to retain the league title.