Close Encounters
For Hornets
By Laureie-Jean B. Gauthier

The Whitcomb and Chelsea boys teams faced off for a close game last week. The Hornets came from behind to sting the Red Devils, 3-2. Pictured above, 322 Chris Kerr-Ayer makes his move up-field. (Herald / Joyce Hunt) Sports cut Whit chels be

It was a heart breaking finish as the Whitcomb boys lost in double overtime to the visiting Concord Wildcats last Wednesday in Bethel.

The Hornets took the early lead when Clemens Garve socked the orb away at 3:39 and held the Wildcats scoreless for the next 25 plus minutes, as they stuck to their guns, and the other team, like glue. Mitch Arseneault deposited for the tie at 29:38, where the score remained even throughout the remainder of the game.

Neither team managed to finish things off in the first overtime, although the Hornets made a valiant triple-threat attempt. First the ball hit the cross bar. Then a header by Garve missed the mark. Finally, the ball slipped off the foot of the Hornets and the save was made by the Concord goalie.

At 4:37 in the second overtime the Wildcats claimed the victory when Mike Blakesley netted the orb in for the sudden-death win.

Close Contest

The Whitcomb Hornets boys’ soccer team welcomed the Chelsea Red Devils to Bethel on Friday, Oct 12 on Senior Recognition Day. Both teams have two seniors and all four were recognized before the game. Deven Hill and Tyler Killian play for Whitcomb and Joe Bonasera and Jordan Lyford play for Chelsea. Whitcomb also recognized junior foreign exchange student Clemens Garve. Garve, from Germany, is currently scheduled to return home in January and therefore the Whitcomb community wanted to acknowledge this fine athlete.

From start to finish, it was a very good game with both teams hot on the trail of their opponent and managing to keep the game on an even playing field. With one sub available, Whitcomb was one man up on Chelsea, who was one man down with Bonasera sitting out a second game red-card infraction.

Chelsea scored first in the contest when Glen Milchman deposited the orb in at 6:32. An Andrew Richardson deposit went in at 10:22, before the Hornets came back for two of their own and a tied contest. Chris Kerr-Ayer assisted Garve for the first Hornet goal. Freshman Brandon Kendall chipped the ball into the upper right corner, after a skirmish in front of the net allowed for the footed connection.

At the break it was anybody’s game at 2-2.

Neither team managed to break through their opponent’s defense for the first 30 minutes back. But only one second later, at 30:01, Deven Hill headed a Chris Kerr-Ayer corner kick in for the last goal of the game and a 3-2 Whitcomb victory.

____________