Wolverine Soccer: Wolverines Hold off Hebron Academy, Pick Up 4th Win of Season

The Wolverines played host to Hebron Academy Wednesday afternoon and came away with a 4-3 victory. The Wolverines got on the board in the 17th minute when some confusion in the box resulted in a Hebron defender attempting to clear the ball and accidentally put in an own goal. With just over five minutes remaining in the first half Bridgton Academy's Julian Clarke (Nassau, Bahamas) added another Wolverine goal, this time in the more traditional way, putting them up 2-0 and igniting a scoring frenzy heading into halftime. One minute later Hebron Academy answered with a goal of their own making it 2-1. 1:23 seconds later Bridgton's David Martin (Cincinnati, OH) gathered the ball in a crowded box and fired a well struck ball that found the back of the net giving the Wolverines a 3-1 lead heading into halftime.

The second half saw things begin to get a bit more chippy with a number of fouls and the games physicality level clearly at a new level. Wolverine goalkeeper Nick Gardner (Manchester, NH) was on the receiving end of two very aggressive charges from the opposing team, the second warranting a yellow card. The Wolverines continued to play their brand of soccer, playing a possession game and capitalizing on the opportunities they gave themselves as a result. In the 57th minute Bridgton Academy's Joe Medeiros (Hudson, NH) found himself on a breakaway only to be tripped up inside the box resulting in a penalty kick. Team captain Chris Rajotte (Avon, CT) calmly made Medeiros' effort well worth it converting the PK and giving the Wolverines a three goal lead.

That lead quickly began to disappear when Hebron Academy answered with a goal of their own in the 60th minute making the score 4-2. The teams played fairly even for the next 17 minutes before the Wolverines were called for a crucial penalty inside the box giving Hebron a PK opportunity of their own, which they were able to convert. With the score now 4-3 and only 13 minutes remaining the Wolverines needed to step up and protect their lead, and were able to do just that in holding on for a much deserved 4-3 win.

The Wolverines have two games remaining on their schedule for the season, the first coming this Saturday at 3 p.m. in a match away versus Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, before returning home next Wednesday, November 5th to take on Brewster Academy in the regular season finale at 2:30 p.m.