Martlets Face Tough Tigers Under The Lights

Playing under the lights at Suffield HS, the Martlets suffered their second straight defeat at the hands of a speedy and direct Suffield side.  The hosts put the Westminster defense on its heels with numerous long balls over the top, but the back line of Connor Janson '13, Sean Han '14, Lorin Tobey '15 and Greg Pietroforte '12 handled the pressure.  The Tigers eventually broke through on a different sort of play.  Taking a quick throw-in deep in the Martlet end, a quick cross found the head of a Tiger striker and the score was 1-0.  Several minutes later a long through ball resulted in a penalty kick being awarded when keeper Jake Crow '12 took down the charging striker as he slid trying to gather up the ball.  Converting the chance gave Suffield the two goal lead they would take into the half.  Early in the second half another cross and another header gave the Tigers a 3-0 advantage, but the Martlets struck right back when Greg Jarvis '13 tracked down a long through ball from Alex Wrona '14, arriving just before the charging keeper to drive it into the net.  With a sudden jolt of energy (and the Suffield keeper injured on the scoring play) the momentum seemed to shift toward the Black and Gold.  The ball spent more time in the offensive end and the boys generated a flurry of activity in and around the Suffield box.  Unfortunately none of the attacks turned into good shots on goal, and eventually some loose passing and continued Tiger pressure turned the tide again, with the home side adding two late goals for the final 5-1 score.  The boys will try to rebound when they hit the road again, visiting Choate on Wednesday.