It’s not like we hadn’t generated enough heat on our own yesterday, but Mother Nature brought us a bit more today. The boys awoke to another glorious morning to set us up for Day 2, with the score all knotted up. Same routine today… breakfast, inspection, and a quick team meeting to put their game faces on. Then off they went from Trickey to the Hejduk and everywhere in between.
The Tigers played a pair of closely contested Hockey games in the Rink, but both went Gray’s way. In the first, Gray scored a pair in the first period, then locked down the rest of the way to hold on for a 2-1 victory. In the other, Robbie scored the game-winner with just under a minute left to win it. However, Red answered by winning two of the three Hoops games to win the Cubs/Lions Basketball. Micah, Jonah and Theo Q were the scoring leaders in Red’s pair of wins.
In Sophomores Football, Dash led Red to a most exciting back and forth victory on the Rec Hall field, overcoming a spectacular TD catch by Gray’s Theo R late in the game that put the outcome in doubt. Ethan V then caught a 4th and goal TD pass with less than a minute to go to seal it for Red. Red Stars also swept the singles matches and carried the Skills competition which put another point on their side of the ledger. And further, they overcame a strong performance by Gray swimmers with wins in the Ski and Kayak elements to carry Juniors Waterfront.
Over at the Hejduk, Gray dominated the first of two Lax games 8-1, led by James K, Matthew and Solomon. In the best finish of the morning, Red’s Sam E saved the day, coming out of nowhere with an incredible sliding stick check on the crease with a second to go, preventing a certain tying goal and holding on for a one-goal victory, and splitting Freshmen Lacrosse. Down on the Freddie Pierce, Coop went deep over the right field fence to provide the early lead, while Thomas T made a couple of sliding catches in left field to protect It for Gray in their 9-4 Seniors win to close the morning activities.
Lots of elusive runs, great catches, incredible shots, tight races, spectacular plays, and close finishes have highlighted the action so far … and we’re only a day and half in. Time for some nourishment and a good rest as the boys broke for lunch with Red now ahead.
This afternoon was more of the same. Red extended the lead further with a 3-0 win by their Stars on Sky II’s Hejduk Soccer pitch. On the Sky I lacrosse field, Gray responded by winning the first Cubs/Lions Lax game, 7-5 behind the outstanding midfield play of Larkin and Lockett. But Red mitigated the loss with a win of their own in Game 2, to spit the point.
Red again surged ahead by winning another Waterfront meet, this time by their Tigers strokers and boaters. But Gray responded convincingly by winning both Hoops games on the upper and lower courts. Sam P and Nate F had it going and led all scorers in the wins.
Gray inched a little closer when they blew out Red in a hitting onslaught on the Freddie Pierce in Sophomore Baseball. Then results came in from the Bunkline Field where Joaquin ran and passed his way all over the field in a 56-30 rout in Seniors Football for Red.
The most excitement of the day was down on the Snow Field. The Freshmen went toe-to-toe in a double-dip of amazing nail-biting Soccer games. In the first, there were 5 lead changes in a very well-played contest, filled with fantastic team play from both sides. In the end, Gray scored with seconds to play to tie it up 4-all, leaving today’s last point on the shoulders of the Game 2 Freshmen participants. With all other games finished and everyone on the hill overlooking this venue, the stadium atmosphere was electric. The tension grew as no one could find the back of the net well into the second half. With only two minutes left, Gray finally broke through a disheartened Red squad and their highlight-reel goalie Declan C who had kept them in it. A wild celebration ensued, and some of the exuberant Gray onlookers had to be cleared from the field. Then, with about a minute left, Red scored the equalizer, which not only tied it up but set off its own Red on-field explosion. It was the Red celebrants that now had to be cleared just as Gray had a minute before … and alas, this one also ended in a tie, halving Freshmen Soccer. What a finish!
Movie night under the stars, maybe the most picturesque, moonlit night of the summer was a perfect antidote for a most exhilarating, spirited action-packed day. Red will sleep on the lead, but has Gray nipping at their heels. Still just a couple of points separate the teams.
Stay tuned….
