Bruins Win Season Opener at Choate

The Brunswick soccer team kicked off its season with a win on the road at Choate, 1-0, on Wednesday afternoon. 

The victory marks the first for the Bruins over the Wild Boars since 2015. 

It was an exciting and hard-fought match from the start with both teams earning chances in the opening frame. ’Wick appeared to net a goal in the 23rd minute but it was ultimately called back on a close offside call. Choate had its best opportunity of the contest just before the first half ended after an intercepted pass near midfield led to a breakaway chance between senior GK James Walker and a Choate striker. Walker played it perfectly, coming off his line in making a huge save to keep it scoreless at the half.

It was more back-and-forth in the second stanza, with the Bruins settling into a groove defending and quickly countering against Choate's midfielders and back-four. The lone goal of the match came in the 65th minute: Senior midfielder Patrick Keller won the ball off an attacking player in the defensive third and played a long through ball to senior captain Nico Montoni, who took on a defender and laid the ball off perfectly for senior midfielder Jeffrey Ruiz to swifty deposit into the back of the net from 18 yards out.

The Wild Boars kept Brunswick on its toes in the last 20 minutes, putting constant pressure on the defensive unit but the hosts could not gain the equalizer.

Standout players for the Bruins included senior captain John Dunn at the center-back position, senior Frankie Grether and first-year Will Higgs in the midfield, and senior Gavin Foster on the wing. Senior Kaden Saad also had a busy day, taking six corners that resulted in near scoring opportunities.

In his first WNEPSSA league start and appearance in goal, Walker made eight saves on the day, in addition to steering away multiple crosses and through-balls and making smart decisions with his distribution.

The Bruins will head back on the road for a match against Taft on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.