Choate Teams Hope to Repeat the Sweep at Deerfield A Preview of the Deerfield Day Varsity Match-Ups
By Vishal Khandheria '09, Luke Min '09, and Ben Millard '10
News Reporters
Field Hockey
This season, Field Hockey currently holds a season record of 10-5. Led by head coach Fran O’Donoghue and assistant coach Meghan Hazard, this team holds a strong season record. In the other hand, Deerfield Academy also stands with a very competitive record. So far, DA holds a season record of 9-2-1.
Both teams, holding competitive positions in the league, had common oppositions this season. Choate lost 4-0 to Hotchkiss, while Deerfield lost 5-0. Also, both squads managed to defeat Kent by the score of 2-1. However against Westminster, Choate lost 2-3, while Deerfield won 2-1. Choate also lost to Taft 1-3, while Deerfield tied Taft 1-1.
Under the leadership of the two captains Caroline Shumway ’08 and Emily Vitale ’08, the team will need several players to step up. Kelly Walsh ’09 and Caroline Potolicchio ’10 will need to control the midfield in order for Choate to win. Choate will look to perform better than last year’s 1-1 tie; however, playing at Deerfield is always a difficult challenge.
Football
This weekend, Choate football’s season culminates with the game against its biggest rival, Deerfield Academy. Deerfield’s record is 4-2 after losing to Avon on Sunday. DA has wins against NMH, Hotchkiss, and Andover. These are the three teams Choate had trouble with, though the NMH game was a tie. With both of the teams beating Exeter and Taft, it seems that the football game between the two rivals will be a good match up.
Choate’s season has been very lively this year, with close games against Exeter, Kent, and Andover. As to how some of the players feel about the season, Captain Dan Thomas ’08 feels that “We are doing pretty well.” There have been some injuries that plagued the season, but the team is still determined to come out on Saturday. With a record of 4-2-1, the team is certainly better than last year’s. “On any given Saturday, any team can win,” added Thomas. With that being said, the game on Sunday should be well contested.
Choate will have its heavy hitters hungry for revenge from last year’s defeat. Players to watch for include Bobby Erskine, Mike Ryce, Thomas, Ben Pascale, Evan Jackson, and Uchenna Nwogu. As for the game itself, Thomas says, “We can go 0-7 and I wouldn’t care as long as we beat Deerfield. This rivalry is better than Army-Navy, it really is. It’s got more pride in it, more love, and hatred.” To many, this game is the highlight of the season, whether as a fan or an athlete. Deerfield Day will be a vital moment, as Choate makes a last effort to make the playoffs. A Choate win, along with a Andover defeat, could send the Wild Boars to New Englands.
Boys Soccer
Boys Soccer has had a tough season this year with a current record of 4-10-1. The Deerfield Boys Soccer team, which has had a good season, stands with the record of 8-2-6. Last year on Deerfield Day, the Choate and Deerfield battled in a close 1-1 game. Throughout the season, Deerfield and Choate have played similar schools, which include Kent, Westminster, Phillips Exeter Academy, Andover, and Taft. Of the five schools, Deerfield managed to tie three of them. At Kent, Choate suffered a loss of 1-3 while Deerfield tied 0-0. Also, Choate lost to Westminster 1-2, while Deerfield took a victory of 2-0. In the other hand, Choate has been successful against teams who Deerfield struggled with. Choate even managed to take a 2-1 win at Exeter while the Doors could only pull away with a 2-2 tie. However, Choate suffered a brutal 0-3 loss against Andover while Deerfield was able to pull away with yet another 3-3 tie. Both Choate and Deerfield managed to pull off two wins against the five common schools each played.
Girls Soccer
Girls Varsity Soccer has had a great season with the record of 8-6-1. Led by co-captains Jill Mastroianni ’08 and Lauren Gambardella ’08, Choate’s team is a strong match for Deerfield, a team that have struggled thus far. The Doors holds a current season record of 4-6-3.
Both teams have had many games with other schools so far, some of which are common opponents between Choate and Deerfield. Both teams have competed against almost 10 teams in common. For example, against Philips Exeter Academy, Choate won 1-0, while Deerfield lost 3-0. Against Hotchkiss, Choate also earned 5-1 win, while Deerfield lost 1-0.
Overall, Choate’s record seems to be ahead of Deerfield’s. However, Mastroianni, points out an important factor for Wild Boars to win. She says that Choate “needs more shots on the goal.” Forwards and midfielders, including Isabel Clements ’11, Kathleen Romania ’09 and Mackinzie Neal ’10 will be playing key roles in the offense. According to Coach Tisdale, Choate will need a strong offense and “all players to focus on the game,” in order for Choate to win.
Girls Volleyball
Girls Volleyball has had an excellent season this year with a current record of 12-3. However, Deerfield’s Girls Volleyball has also had an excellent year with a record of 12-1. On September 15, Choate hosted a Play Day that hosted Suffield Academy, Kingswood-Oxford, Wilbraham and Monson, Hopkins, and Deerfield. During the Play Day, Deerfield proved undefeated in the ten matches they played, including one against Choate. Even though Deerfield managed to beat Choate, we can expect a good match on Saturday. Both teams played seven of the same schools, which include Hopkins, Hotchkiss, St. Paul’s, Loomis, Miss Porter’s School, Andover, and Exeter. Both teams pulled off a 3-0 win against Hopkins School. However Choate was able to secure a 3-1 victory at Hotchkiss, which was Deerfield’s only loss (3-2). Both Choate and Deerfield secured easy wins at Loomis, Miss Porter’s, Exeter, and St. Paul’s. Both teams won all but one of their matches of the seven common schools they played. Even though Deerfield was able to defeat Choate on September 15, we can expect the game on November 10 at Deerfield to be a very close match as both teams have had excellent seasons.
