Windham first team boys’ soccer gets win over Gorham

By Matt Pascarella

The Windham boys’ first team soccer team, a mixture of freshmen and junior varsity players, took on Gorham in a game at home on Thursday, Oct. 12 and in just the team’s second game of the season, they went hard against the Rams and beat them, 1-0.

Windham freshman Allegra Kawaya accepts a pass and keeps
moving during a first team boys' soccer match against Gorham
on Thursday, Oct. 12 at Windham High School.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

“It was some of the best possession soccer we’ve played all year,” said Windham first team boys’ soccer coach Aaron Graves. “We’re not a team, we’re a family; we really try to preach that and today ... I’m very pleased with everybody – everybody played their part very well. Our off the ball runs were great, defending as a team, for the most part we kept our shape in the midfield and didn’t get too stretched out, overall, we played a great game as a whole. Always stuff to work on, our first touch, our communication, I didn’t think we talked a whole lot today ... it got us in trouble a couple times with miscommunication and not talking.”

Windham started the game aggressively and kept the ball close to Gorham‘s goal early in the game. Windham worked hard to be first to the ball. They had solid defense and kept Gorham scoreless in the first half. The Eagles did a good job redirecting the ball and kept Gorham from gaining too many possessions.

The Eagles gave 100 percent for the entire game. Late in the first half, Windham freshman Allegra Kawaya made a cross to freshman Abram Cayetano and Cayetano scored, which gave Windham a 1-0 lead midway through.

“I expected [Kawaya] to cross the pass and he did, great assist from him and I just hoped that none of the [Gorham] defense had a touch on that ball,” said Cayetano. “We’ve been working on this all week ... we played hard today. Our motivation and just keeping that winning mentality led to the win. Our possession was better than it was at the start of the year, we didn’t get frustrated with each other when things went wrong and we’re just a family now.”

According to Cayetano, spacing, making smart plays, and going after the ball if you lose it are some things that still need improvement.

In the second half, Windham was determined to get the win. Their defense did a great job holding Gorham back. Windham had more shots at goal in the second half and they continued to work hard to be first to the ball.

Late in the second quarter, Windham sophomore and goalie Cam Damon had a key stop right in front of the goal to prevent a tie game. Gorham had one final attempt before the whistle, but it hit the crossbar and Gorham was shut out.

“I think playing the ball outside and passing more [led to today’s win]” said Kawaya. “I just take the ball, take two touches, and just cross it ... so I can have somebody put it in the box; switching and playing the ball and playing the ball outside [went well]. It was a good win.” <