Crimson - A View from Senior Captain Taylor Gorman

As a BMS player you learn to enjoy every win because all of them are hard earned and the satisfaction is short lived. However, a win versus the Harvard “Crimson” is unlike any other.

On Tuesday morning, after a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory against Princeton the squad was excited and ready to begin preparations for what would surely be another competitive Ivy contest. Although the early morning wake up had produced some sleepy faces, it did not take long for the players to bring the energy to training that would be needed to beat Harvard on the upcoming weekend. As the week progressed the quality and intensity picked up. The level of anticipation grew steadily until finally it was the day before the day. The team had a focused practiced that ended with a little comical relief with Weiner skying a penalty that would surely have outdistanced his best goal kick all year. The best week of training all year concluded with the team rolling on the ground laughing at the hilarious penalty attempt.

The next day flew by and soon the team was boarding the bus for Harvard. After the short trip up 95, we had arrived. As the stands filled and the bright lights illuminated the field it surely seemed like it was going to be a night to remember. The game started fast with flying tackles and aerial battles. Immediately it was apparent that the team had brought “Scrap City” to Harvard’s field. Although the night didn’t end up producing electrifying soccer it did produce one fantastic moment. Around 30 minutes into the game TJ “Scrap Man” Pops slipped a ball into Evan “The Legend” Coleman at the top of the box. With defenders closing around him “Old Man” Coleman did his best Pops impression and toe picked a glorious finish into the bottom left corner which stunned the Crimson keeper and fans. As Coleman did his patented “lose your mind” celebration the Brown fans and alumni erupted into cheers. The second half saw the Brown back line defending the Alamo and when the final whistle blew we had done it. First victory against Harvard in 4 years and it felt just as good as we thought it would. After embracing family and friends as we left the pitch, the team hopped on the bus and headed home to celebrate a victory unlike any other.

Tigers Tamed.

As Pops would put it: “it was the night of the night”.

A desperate Princeton squad took Stevenson on Saturday night.  A team that relies on it’s front runners heavily to be the source of their attack.  Unfortunately for them they needed to match up with two Brown CB’s whom they would get to know a little more than they’d like over the course of the match.  It was a game neither team could afford to drop.  The team appeared focused and it showed in the first half.  

A good crowd filled the stands at Stevenson and cheered the boys on as they faced yet another worthy opponent.  As usual, the decisions refereeing the match were quite original, and the boys were forced to battle through adversity.  We all know, it’s hard to get a referee that everyone likes…(We just want one we like…once in a while).  That being said, the referees did not decide the match. 

Our Bears had the majority of quality moments through out the first segment barring free kicks and long throws by the opponent.  Even though we had the best of play in the first, we headed to the locker room even 1-1.

Re-taking the field feeling sluggish was regrettable.  Princeton capitalized on a miss-communication a few moments into the second half. 

The next 30 minutes or so were hard to watch.  The boys were fighting for every moment, but failed to create anything of quality.  In need of a heroic effort Hayward sent in a curving service and Pop’s rose up from a crowd to finish the tying goal less than 10 minutes before the end of regulation.  With the momentum heading into overtime, the boys’ took the field with confidence.  Less than two minutes into the first overtime, Pops finishes another; finishing the game; sending a message to the rest of the Ivy that: Brown has it’s eyes re-focused on a league title.  Brown 3 Princeton 2.

Queens, NY

It was a chilly night at Belson Stadium.  I had three layers on myself, Coach Groves only one; I assume still heated from the last trip.  As a staff we were confident in our game plan and that the boys' would execute. The approach was a decision the team needed to make…

Hayward brought Step Brothers from his movie collection.  After an overwhelming vote the DVD was delivered by a first-year from the back of the bus.  The boys couldn’t get enough. The staff looked around awkwardly, unsure whether to laugh or disapprove.

After a pre-game meal at Joe’s Fleetwood Pizza we filed back onto the bus headed for Belson.  It was a stressful affair sitting in bumper to bumper traffic for over 45 minutes (lot’s of nail-biting, and anxious glancing at the wrist watch). It put us in a time crunch forcing our shortest warm-up routine of the season. 

Arising from hibernation the boys were lively and ready to get back on track.  Two trips to NYC in 4 short days can take a toll on the body, but the team was up to the challenge.  Surprisingly, they were full of energy and ready to take on a worthy opponent.

The game began with one of Rob’s signature tackles at mid-field, sparking a cheer from the bench.  The red storm seemed tamed to a light drizzle throughout the first segment.  Both amount of possession and opportunities on goal were close to even.  We were connecting passes well and looked composed on the ball facing a team who had conceded just 1 goal at home this season.  It all came down to the mindset.  The Bears showed as a team with something to prove after the previous weekend’s result. 

Several players contributed to a quality team effort earning a well-deserved tie on the road.  Duff and E-rob held off every attack in the back from a highly talented St. John’s front line, which was able to test SKS on a few occasions; he dealt with them successfully tallying the third shutout of his career. 

The boys’ fought hard through the overtime periods.  Heads were held high upon exiting the stadium.  St. John’s 0 Brown 0.