St. Thomas @ Oyster River
August 24, 2012

The Saints opened their season against rival Oyster River.  Both teams were fresh off a grueling preseason that consisted of scrimmages against most of the same division 1 teams.  With some basic scouting knowledge from those coaches both teams knew what to expect - another knock down drag out rivalry game.

Last years regular season meeting between these two teams at Oyster River was a long fought battle.  St. Thomas was down 3-1 with 10 minutes left and managed to tie the game and send it into two additional 10 minute overtime periods that remained a tie with both teams leaving everything on the field.
(In the last 4 seasons, 4 of 8 games between the teams have gone into overtime.)

The Saints won the toss and chose field position for Senior Keeper Ben Mardin's varsity debut.
St. Thomas took the field with a starting defense of Noah Schwaegerle, Sebastian Olsen, John Sweeny and Aaron Dubois.  All four of these player had at least a year of varsity experience under their belt.  The midfield of Seniors Brian Ellis, Evan Surprenant, and TJ Tetreault along with Junior Tommy Griffiths also had at least a year of varsity experience, but this was there first game working together as a midfield unit.  Senior striker Jon Nartiff was the teams returning leading scorer with 10 goals and 7 assists last season.  The rookie striker was junior Eric Eames.  While this was Eames's first varsity game, he had earned his spot during the preseason scrimmages even scoring against division 1 teams.  The saints weren't worried about experience as varsity players, they just needed to see if they could put it all together as a team.

The play started out showing nervousness by both teams during the first few minutes.  As play went on skill and experience took over and both teams made great attacking runs only to be thwarted by stalwart defenses.  A number of the Saints made their varsity debut and what a game to make it in.  It's nerve wracking enough entering the field in your first varsity game, it's doubly so when it is against such a storied program as Oyster River.  Senior Simon Smith saw his first action at outside mid with veteran sophomore Xavier Quinn on the other touch line.  Both Players did well to pressure the Bobcat defense and still recover to assist our D.  The tandem of Kassas brothers Tony and Guy saw time as Strikers doing well to work attacks against the Oyster River back four. 

At the 23 minute mark #3 Zack Jones took a back pass at about 25 yards out and let off a shot that looked like it was gong to continue to rise right over the cross bar, but the shot took a nasty dip and fell in just under the top right corner.   The Bobcats had drawn first blood and got on the board with a superb shot that no keeper would have had a chance at.

Most teams who found themselves down a goal against Oyster River would have thoughts that this was the beginning of a bad day.  The Saints however took it in stride and with the confidence of a late season team took the ball down and tied the score up in less than 45 seconds.  The Kick off was brought back and swung around to Olsen on the right outside D.  Working with Surprenant they brought the ball up field along the touch line and  Nartiff got in the mix for a give and go that set Surprenant up clear in the corner allowing him to turn and make a great crossing pass to the far back post.  Nartiff got his head on the ball and sent it into the underside of the cross bar.  There was a loud pinging sound and the ball came down into the goal.  Jon followed up his shot and made sure it stayed over the line in the goal for the referee to see.

Both junior defenders Scott Lamoureux and Jared Ham made their varsity debut giving the hard working back 4 breaks throughout the match.  Both players did exceptionally well to handle the pressure of first game jitters and Bobcat attack.  Senior Noah Guilfuchi also made his varsity debut at the outside midfield working well to add to the Saints attack and defend against Oyster Rivers advances.

Eight minutes remained in the first half and Eames saw a chance to pounce on the Bobcat defense as it was moving the ball across the field.  His burst of speed put extra pressure on, forcing a bad pass that he intercepted and sent  past the Oyster River Keeper for the go ahead goal.  While Eames first career varsity goal would hold up to be a game winner, a one goal lead is never enough to relax over.

Halftime found the score St. Thomas 2 - Oyster River 1
STA's Ben Mardin had made 4 saves on 5 shots and OR's Griffin Sperry made 4 saves on 6 shots.
The atmosphere on the bench was good with the lead and allowed the players to rest easier during the half.  Experience told them they had to finish strong, there could be no let up.

The Saints took the kick off to start the second half.  Oyster River came out with an increased intensity desperately trying to even up the score.  They worked to develop a number of chances but final shots sailed wide or over the frame.  The St. Thomas defense got even tougher. 

Nartiff made some great attacking runs on through balls by Tetreault, Surprenant and Griffiths.  Ellis, Olsen, Dubois and Schwaegerle all made great runs carrying the ball into the attack.  Each time the Bobcat defense came up solid.

Sophomore Beau Patteson made his varsity debut at both striker and outside midfield during the game.  Patteson earned some great experience under extreme pressure.

Throughout the second half both teams defended and countered with zeal.  Each team working for the next score, each defense not wanting to give it up.  Both keepers came up big running out to scoop up through balls or taking pass backs to let pressure off their defense.  Mardin was exceptionally vocal in instructing the wall where to set up on set pieces.  Possession by both teams was so good that each team only got 2 corner kicks each.

In the final minutes St. Thomas dropped Nartiff back to use his height to defend. Oyster River seemed to dig down even deeper and work to send another game into overtime.  The Saints were able to finish the game with a strong defensive performance and snatch the season opener from the Bobcats.

Oyster River keeper Sperry had 6 saves and Mardin had 6 for St. Thomas.

St. Thomas travels to Lebanon on Tuesday for another teams season opener.

Photos by Nancy Surprenant

Here is the post game interview for Foster's Sports with Jon Nartiff and Eric Eames

Read Mike Whaley's article in Foster's Dailey Democrat

 (see it here if it doesn't load in your browser)

 

 

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