On a gentle November afternoon, warm with the fading remnants of autumn, the SPS Boys JV Soccer team took the field at undefeated Vermont Academy. The game – and the result – are one to remember. SPS attacked from the first whistle SPS: no sitting back, no playing safe, only forward. Sound, incisive play from Bo Williams and Luca Walter kept the ball and the pressure in the Vermont box. One zipping cross, befuddling the Vermont back line, pinged helplessly off a defender and into the side netting. 1-0. The SPS attack continued. A through ball to Peter Kelly Cardoze, taken in stride, was fizzed past the Vermont keeper. 2-0. Before long, déjà vu all over again and Peter buried his second of the game. 3-0. Vermont upped their intensity, intent on leveling the score. A Vermont winger broke into the SPS box, was accidentally clipped by the SPS keeper. A PK was fairly awarded and deftly converted. 3-1. Hal Johnson, Jack Rubiralta Kunze, and Enoch Huang defended heroically in the face of relentless Vermont attacks. Jack had one of the plays of the season when he made a miraculous goal line save with his head on a shot destined for the upper 90. Though thwarting most of Vermont's offensive salvos, and frustrating their best player's attempt to break through, a long-range Vermont strike found the back of the net. 3-2. But SPS heads did not hang. The boys stormed back, firing dagger balls through the midfield, and gentle lobs over the top. Out of options, the Vermont defender took Peter down just outside the box. Chris Tong stepped up, considered his angles, and sliced a delicious ball over the wall and into the net. 4-2. SPS shifted to a defensive stance as the Vermont attacks grew more desperate. Ben Clary did gritty yeoman's work tracking and silencing Vermont's biggest and best player for most of the game. Fouls started to fly and Vermont picked up two yellow cards, and then, unfortunately, a straight red. With daylight dwindling, with player safety in mind, and with just twelve minutes to play, the referees decided to call the game. From the first whistle to the last, the SPS players conducted themselves with maturity, sportsmanship, heart, and talent. Every player got on the field, and every player made a contribution. SPS Boys JV Soccer remain undefeated in the Lakes Region.