October 5, 2006 Issue                                       

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©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Chestnut Hill Academy battles Episcopal to a tough tie
by Devon Grieb

CHA’s Ryan Duffy made his presence known on the field. For more photos, visit www.chlocalphotos.com. (Photos by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

Chestnut Hill Academy hosted a tough 5-1-2 Episcopal Academy last Saturday afternoon, September 30, for their homecoming weekend and hoping to find their sixth win of the season. Although the game resulted in a 0-0 tie, it was anything but uneventful. Like watching two brothers fight, the teams were physical and neither one of them would be satisfied walking away with anything other than a win. From a chanting section of kids in the home crowd to a handful of yellow cards handed out by the referees, this game had everything, but a goal.

Throughout the whole game players were slipping and falling, if not from being pushed then from the wet grass caused by the rain earlier that day. Things started out in favor of the Episcopal team when Devils defensive man, Penn Steel, was injured seven minutes into the game. Despite the loss, Co-Captain Ian DeSaints and sophomores Ryan Duffy and Tom Gargan made their presence felt on the defensive side of the ball keeping the Episcopal team at bay for as long as they could. One defining moment that showed goalkeeper, Chip Culp was at the top of his game on this frigid grey afternoon was a play off of a corner kick. Episcopal set up a perfect play ,head butting the ball in the net off a corner kick that assured them a goal in any normal game, but the celebration was short-lived after Culp was standing in perfect position to make the save.

The first half of the game ended in a near fight between DeSaints and one of the Episcopal players resulting in both receiving yellow cards.

After calming down and showing his leadership, DeSaints walked away, making sure he wouldn’t get ejected from the game.

After the first 20 minutes of the second half, Michael Marino and Joe Breen reawakened the devil offense and gave hope to the exhausted defense by finally taking control of the ball and putting the Episcopal goalie to work. Still, the game went into overtime. With two five minute periods, there was no real time to start a drive or finish one, but the players gave every bit of effort they had left in them. Through all the fighting and hard physical play, the teams were able to walk away the same in the end. Chestnut Hill Academy’s next opponent is St. Joseph’s Preparatory School on Thursday, October 5, at 3:45pm.