Missed Opportunity for Chargers
by Ken Brown
photo by Vanessa Fournier | Craftsbury 9th grader Evan LaMare goes for the ball against Danville’s Nicco Siani during Homecoming on October 16 on Dustan Field. Danville edged Craftsbury 2-1. 
photo by Vanessa Fournier | Calvin Cacciamani (#14) of Craftsbury looks to pass the ball by Danville’s Josh Demasi (#12) during Craftsbury’s Homecoming game Saturday. Danville got by the Chargers 2-1.
CRAFTSBURY – The Craftsbury Academy (CA) boys’ soccer team was awarded a win via forfeit by Blue Mountain earlier in the week but were surprised by a depleted Danville team on homecoming weekend, putting their record at 3-8 on the season.
Nico Siani converted on free kick outside of the eighteen-yard line late in the first half for the eventual game-winner to lead Danville to a 2-1 road win over the Chargers. Blue Mountain was forced to forfeit their third match of the season on Tuesday as they continue to battle depleted numbers due to injuries and COVID-19.
“Firstly, I just want to credit Danville and their coaching staff who came in well prepared with a good attitude and that paid off for them,” said head coach Sam Jay. “As a collective, we lacked mental toughness in what was our homecoming weekend against a team that is having a difficult season for various reasons. The boys went into the match with the wrong attitude and at the end of the day that falls on me,” added Jay.
Andrew Joncas gave Danville a 1-0 edge twenty minutes into the match before Silas Hunt found the equalizer six minutes later for CA. Siani’s direct kick just before the break would end the scoring on the day as both teams managed 15 shots on the afternoon. The win was the second in three matches for Danville as they improved to 2-9 on the season. Unfortunately during the match, a Danville player severely injured his shoulder and had to be taken off the field by Hardwick Rescue.
“The overall feeling after the match was bitter disappointment and immense frustration. We had 10 clear-cut opportunities to score in this match and had a real opportunity to put it to bed early in the first ten minutes. We talked about starting quick, had prepared for it during the week, and set up the team tactically, but our finishing was atrocious. I need to work harder to prepare the lads and focus on getting them into the right headspace before matches. We will get to work in training and go again this week, starting with Twinfield-Cabot,” said Jay.
If the Chargers are to finish the regular season strong, it will have to be on the road with matchups against Twinfield-Cabot and Richford on Wednesday and Friday.