Slow Start Does in Mount Greylock Boys

BENNINGTON, Vt. – Saturday’s trip to play in the finals of the Mount Anthony Patriot Tournament was one of the quickest journeys the Mount Greylock boys soccer team will take this season.

 

The game was over even more quickly.

 

Burr and Burton scored four goals in the first 18 minutes en route to a 4-1 win over the Mounties on Spinelli Field.

 

And although Mount Greylock was able to regroup and compete with the Bulldogs over the final 60 minutes of play, the game served as a lesson that the Mounties will not be able to let up for a moment against the teams on its schedule.

 

“Ultimately, this is why we come and play Burr and Burton,” Mounties coach Chris Kapiloff said. “”Playing teams that get to do the things they do, like recruiting … These games get us ready for the intensity level of the post-season.”

 

It took just 1 minute, 39 seconds for Burr and Burton’s Alex Watson to find the back of the net with a header off a ball played out of the mixer during an early corner kick.

 

Five minutes laterLiam Hershberg headed in a free kick from the left wing to double the Bulldogs’ advantage.

 

Forrest Barnes scored off a run up the right wing in the 11th minute to make it 3-0, and Rhys Jones converted a penalty kick with 22 minutes, 46 seconds left in the half to put his team ahead, 4-0.

 

“We gave up a goal in two minutes and in seven minutes and, I think, 12 minutes and 18 minutes,” Kapiloff said. “So we found ourselves down, 4-0, to an excellent prep school team.

 

“I told the boys that I was really proud of the way that they played the next 62 minutes. We matched their intensity. Unfortunately, it was too late.”

 

The Mounties got two shots on goal in the first half, but the second, off the toe of Fisher Crowe, forced Burr and Burton’s keeper to make a diving save in the 33rd minute.

 

Mount Greylock continued to generate pressure after the break, and finally gave their fans something to cheer about in the 57th minute, when Ian Haig scored on counter to get the reigning Western Massachusetts Class C Champions on the scoreboard.

 

Five minutes later, the large student section from Williamstown had more to cheer about after Burr and Burton was awarded its second penalty kick of the game, but this time Ward Bianchi (12 saves) made the stop to keep it a three-goal margin.

 

“Ward is an excellent keeper,” Kapiloff said. And Everett Bayliss did a really good job. I moved him back to [center defensive midfielder] from the [center attacking midfielder] position. We had Zin [Doucette] and Asher [Barrale] and Charlie [Bayliss]. There are so many boys who played 62 excellent minutes of hard soccer.”

 

But, as was driven home to the Mounties on Saturday evening, the game is 80 minutes long.

 

“My question to the boys, which I did not let them answer now and I told them I would ask again tomorrow, is: ‘Are they willing to bring that intensity to the rest of our season?’ “ Kapiloff said. “That answer and the follow through will set up Hampshire, Wahconah and Monument this coming week and then Lenox, Taconic and Pittsfield the week after.

 

“We have a tough three-week schedule ahead of us. And we’ll see how it goes.”

 

Game One in that stretch for the Mounties (1-1-1) is Monday afternoon at home against Hampshire Regional.

 

Photos from this game to come.