NEPSAC Champions!
With an opportunity to bring home Millbrook's 7th NEPSAC Championship in boys soccer, the 2025 Mustang side, seeded #4, pulled into Brooks School to take on #2 seed Wheeler School (RI). The team arrived at the field well ahead of the 10 AM kickoff in order to get their legs under them after a hard fought semi-final match against #1 seed Greens Farms and a long bus ride to the hotel the night before.
As most championship games do, this match started with both teams trying to get a feel for the opponent. Wheeler held a slight advantage in possession in the first 15 minutes but didn't generate any threats. Then in the 23rd minute Tahirou Traore '29 took the ball on the left edge of the Wheeler goal box, dribbled central, passed to Marcus Paul '27 who deftly slipped the ball to Oliver Hougland '26 who clinically finished from 16 yards out with his left foot. The score would remain 1-0 at the half and 20 minutes into the second stanza.
Millbrook controlled more of the game in the second half but early chances went begging. Then they became even more threatening. Central midfielder Kevin Fajardo '26 passed a great through ball to Hougland on the right. Hougland hit a solid cross on the ground that got away from the Wheeler keeper and Paul finished it. Just minutes later the Mustangs won a corner kick. Traore set the ball gently on the corner spot and struck a beautiful ball. Center back Ajak Dau '26 had rolled around the back of the large group in the middle, where he got his head on the ball and put it home. 3-0 Millbrook! Four minutes later, another Traore foray into the Wheeler goal box resulted in him lofting a ball to Paul who finished it beautifully off the volley. Then in the waning minutes of the game Hougland won a free kick that was about 20 yards out from goal. Paul lined it up and put it home bring the scoring to a close with the score now 5-0.
It was elation when the final whistle sounded as the Mustangs continued the tradition of excellence so many had paved for them. They can now add a seventh star to the crest! This team epitomized Non Sibi Sed Cunctis!
Back
As most championship games do, this match started with both teams trying to get a feel for the opponent. Wheeler held a slight advantage in possession in the first 15 minutes but didn't generate any threats. Then in the 23rd minute Tahirou Traore '29 took the ball on the left edge of the Wheeler goal box, dribbled central, passed to Marcus Paul '27 who deftly slipped the ball to Oliver Hougland '26 who clinically finished from 16 yards out with his left foot. The score would remain 1-0 at the half and 20 minutes into the second stanza.
Millbrook controlled more of the game in the second half but early chances went begging. Then they became even more threatening. Central midfielder Kevin Fajardo '26 passed a great through ball to Hougland on the right. Hougland hit a solid cross on the ground that got away from the Wheeler keeper and Paul finished it. Just minutes later the Mustangs won a corner kick. Traore set the ball gently on the corner spot and struck a beautiful ball. Center back Ajak Dau '26 had rolled around the back of the large group in the middle, where he got his head on the ball and put it home. 3-0 Millbrook! Four minutes later, another Traore foray into the Wheeler goal box resulted in him lofting a ball to Paul who finished it beautifully off the volley. Then in the waning minutes of the game Hougland won a free kick that was about 20 yards out from goal. Paul lined it up and put it home bring the scoring to a close with the score now 5-0.
It was elation when the final whistle sounded as the Mustangs continued the tradition of excellence so many had paved for them. They can now add a seventh star to the crest! This team epitomized Non Sibi Sed Cunctis!
