Kaden Yang ‘29
Oct 10, 2025
Last weekend, the boys’ varsity soccer team took on the Peddie School in their first MAPL home game of the season. Despite a strong performance, the Blue Storm fell short in a narrow 1–0 loss.
The match drew a supportive crowd and plenty of energy from the sidelines. Christian Garcia-Rivas ‘27 said, “It was exciting because they won against Perkiomen [School] 2-1, and we beat them 3-1. So it was about to be a close game. Also, it was a MAPL game; it's a big tournament and a big league game. Unfortunately, we lost, but there are more games ahead, and we have to keep working hard for those MAPL games.”
The team’s preparation before the match reflected their determination to perform their best in their first MAPL home game. Assistant coach Will Slater stated,” I think you can split the game into two parts — before Peddie scored and after. Our preparation really showed in our dominance in the first phase of the game, but I don’t think we were fully prepared for the challenge the second phase brought. That is, of course, our responsibility as coaches.”
Throughout the game, the Blue Storm created multiple shooting opportunities and dominated possession of the ball. Grant Wilkinson ’26 noted, “ The [Team’s] chemistry was through the roof in the first half; we were playing through them. Unless we made a mistake, they didn’t touch the ball. So our Chemistry was fabulous. Then we got scored on, and it kind of just went downhill from there.”
Looking back on the season, the players recognized how those early experiences built the foundation for their performance against Peddie. Pedro Abranches Pederneiras ‘26 said, “The first few games of the season were really good. I think we took a little too long to really find our shape and to build a culture. We’re still building it, we’re still getting better.
Obviously, there are some ups and downs, but I think we’re doing a good job and we’re building a good team with a good culture and we’re always trying to get better every game.”
Despite the loss, the coaches still have ambitious aspirations for their players. Head coach Skyler Clark said, “My number one goal definitely transcends the game of soccer. I want my players to grow and develop as people above all else. I want them to practice grit, attention to detail, selflessness, respect, and love for something bigger than themselves so that when they walk down the graduation platform, they are fully prepared to accomplish their own hopes and dreams.”
Despite the tough loss, the Blue Storm showed growth, unity, and potential that will carry them through the rest of the season. With continued focus and resilience, the team is determined to turn lessons from this game into success in their upcoming matches.