What appeared to be a very successful season for Varsity Soccer coming into the Fall Family Weekend soon turned out to be just another chapter in a tradition of letting down, losing games that were almost given wins, and just playing inconsistently from game to game.

“I think we lost games that we shouldn’t have lost,” said Coach Hurshman. “It was difficult to play as a team since we had only a handful of returning Varsity players. We were talented, but we just weren’t committed to playing good soccer.”

Following the loss to Kent on Oct. 1, South Kent walked over Harvey 5-0. After losing to a very competent Oakwood squad at home on Oct. 8, Varsity Soccer looked to post a strong performance against Hamden Hall during the Fall Family Weekend match.

Unfortunately, the team did not come out playing well and lost, 5-0.

The next Wednesday, Oct. 15, South Kent traveled to Poughkeepsie Day School on a very windy day, and lost for a second game in a row 5-0. The following Saturday, Oct. 18, the team went over to the perennial rival Gunnery and played a very strange game that ended in a 5-5 tie. The next game, away at Woodhall, was cancelled due to chaos that reigned at that school’s athletic office.

The following Saturday, Oct. 25, the team climbed Skiff Mountain to face Marvelwood with only 13 players, and starting forward Andrei Uryadov came down with the intestinal problems during the warm-ups – which left Coach Hurshman with only 12 players. The game ended in a 3-3 tie, with Marvelwood three-goal comeback coming in with 15 minutes left in regulation. The game against Cheshire on Wednesday, Oct. 29, was cancelled due to heavy rain, so South Kent next played Millbrook on Saturday, Nov. 1, and lost to a very strong Millbrook squad, 6-0. This past Wednesday (Nov. 5), South Kent traveled to nearby Trinity Pawling on a cold and rainy November day, and lost 5-0. The last game of the season is this Saturday (Nov. 8) at Wooster.

“In the last few games I have been pleased with the level of effort and with the contribution of JV callups,” added Coach Hurshman.

With many skilled juniors and sophomores returning to form a core of the Varsity squad, and talented players rising from the ranks of Junior Varsity, there is no need for concern that next season will be a disappointing one.