Martlets Defeat Suffield

The Martlets played at home on Harrison Field in rainy conditions, but the weather did little to slow down the pace of the game. From the opening whistle, the Martlets were energized and excited to be playing on the turf. The team came out with a strong formation, with Calvin Bixby ‘28 making a tremendous impact on the right wing and consistently feeding the offense with quality balls. It did not take long for Hudson O’Hanlon ‘28 to find the back of the net twice. A tactical player at the top of the formation, Hudson consistently used his skill and vision to progress the ball and create opportunities for the Martlets. The pace of the game remained fast, but the Martlets stayed focused and composed while Suffield worked hard to keep up. That pressure eventually resulted in a penalty for the Martlets, which Luke Champoux ‘28 confidently converted to extend the lead. As the half continued, Suffield struggled to regain momentum, while the Martlets continued to control the game. Then, in the final minutes of the half, Calvin Bixby ‘28 made his own statement by scoring a goal to give the Martlets a commanding 4-0 lead heading into halftime.

Suffield came out in the second half with renewed intensity, pushing the ball forward and increasing the speed of play. The Martlets struggled to maintain possession at times, allowing Suffield to capitalize and score two goals to bring themselves right back into the game. The shift in momentum briefly caught the Martlets off guard, but the team quickly responded and found its composure again. Will Jones ‘28 then delivered one of the highlights of the game, striking the ball beautifully with his left foot and curling it into the top corner. The Suffield goalkeeper had no chance as the Martlets restored their momentum. Overall, it was an exciting and entertaining game played through the rain, with the Martlets showing both attacking creativity and resilience. The team is looking forward to carrying this same energy and momentum into the next game.

The Grit & Grace Award goes to Warren Jones ‘30 for his excellent defensive performance, especially while playing outside of his primary position. Warren stepped up when the team needed him, competed hard, and never hesitated to do whatever was necessary to help the team. His willingness to embrace the challenge and contribute wherever needed was a great example of the grit, teamwork, and selflessness we want to see from our Martlets.