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Tuesday, November 18, 2025
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Gillingham Win Penalty Thriller in FA Youth Cup
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Gillingham Under 18s secured a dramatic passage into the third round of the FA Youth Cup, defeating Forest Green Rovers in a tense penalty shootout after a hard-fought 2-2 draw at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
The young Gills were pushed all the way by their determined opponents in a match that demanded resilience and nerve in equal measure.
Bermuda's Nayan Grant was heavily involved in the action, starting the match as Gillingham’s academy side looked to make home advantage count. However, despite their efforts, neither side could find a decisive goal within the regulation ninety minutes, or the subsequent extra time period, leaving the score locked at two goals apiece.
The decisive moment came in the latter stages of the game when the tactical switch was made. Grant was replaced in the 81st minute by Zak Whitelock, who proved to be the hero of the hour.
With the deadlock unbroken, the tie proceeded to penalties. Under the intense pressure of the shootout, it was Whitelock, the late substitute, who stepped up to score the decisive spot-kick. His conversion settled the gripping contest, ensuring Gillingham edged past Forest Green Rovers to book their place in the third round draw.
The win marks a significant achievement for the Gillingham academy side, keeping their FA Youth Cup dream alive as they look ahead to a potentially lucrative third-round fixture.
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Monday, November 17, 2025
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Undefeated Season Crowned with Back-to-Back Titles
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 Taft School boys' soccer team secured their second consecutive New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class A Championship, concluding a truly remarkable undefeated season with a decisive 4-1 victory over Nobles.
The final, held at Brooks, tested the champions immediately, providing a stern early challenge that could have derailed their aspirations. Taft, featuring key players such as James Morrison and goal-scorer James Cooper, found themselves trailing early after Nobles capitalised on the pressure to strike within the opening minutes.
Despite the quick deficit, Taft’s resilience, a hallmark of their flawless season, soon came to the fore. James Cooper wasted no time in settling his side’s nerves, finding the back of the net to bring Taft level. The equalizer ensured the contest remained tight, heading into the crucial middle stages.
The decisive shift in momentum came from Alex Calabro. After Brooks managed to level the score at 1-1, it was Calabro who stepped up to restore Taft's advantage with his first goal of the final.
Calabro's impact was not limited to the first half; he struck again early in the second period, extending Taft's lead and granting them breathing room and a solid grip on the title.
With the result largely secured, Fields DeShaw put the final flourish on a magnificent performance, netting late in the second half to complete the scoring and cement the 4-1 victory.
The comprehensive win ensured Taft finished their season with an unbeaten record, celebrating not just the victory but the retention of the prestigious NEPSAC Class A Championship. The title run confirms the current Taft squad as one of the most dominant in recent school history.
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Sunday, November 16, 2025
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Armstrong & Dayton Falls in Penalty Shootout Thriller
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Andrew Armstrong and his University of Dayton men's soccer teammates were left devastated after their campaign came to a crushing end, falling to 22nd-ranked Saint Louis in a dramatic penalty-kick shootout in the Atlantic 10 Championship final match.
Following a tense 1-1 draw that required extra time to separate the fierce rivals, the title was ultimately decided from twelve yards, with the top-seeded Saint Louis converting five successful penalties to Dayton’s four, claiming the championship trophy.
For Dayton, it was a particularly painful way to lose a final, marking their eleventh appearance in the conference tournament title match. Despite the bitter defeat, the team finished their season with a respectable 8-2-8 overall record after securing the third seed for the tournament with a 4-1-3 mark in conference action. Saint Louis, the regular-season champions, finish 10-2-7.
In a measure of consolation for the Flyers and a recognition of his outstanding contribution throughout the tournament, Andrew Armstrong was duly named to the All-Championship Team. The forward, who has been a standout player for the Flyers this year, now looks ahead to a promising future despite the immediate disappointment of the shootout exit.
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Saturday, November 15, 2025
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Ming and Syracuse Crash Out ACC Semi-Final
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The ACC Championship run for Sachiel Ming and his No. 6-seed Syracuse Orange men's soccer team came to a crashing end as they fell heavily, 5-1, to the No. 7-seed and No. 25-ranked Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs in the Semi-Final Round.
The defeat marks the Orange's largest loss of the season and eliminates them from the conference tournament. Syracuse now waits to find out if they will receive a bid for the NCAA Tournament.
The No. 25 team in the nation, SMU, dictated the tempo and controlled the game, outshooting Syracuse 17 to nine.
The Mustangs opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Mukisa Emmanuel sent the ball past Syracuse goalkeeper Tomas Hut, capitalizing on an assist from Jaylinn Mitchell. Just seven minutes later, in the final minute of the half, Ryan Clanton-Pimentel scored his first goal for SMU to make it 2-0 at the break.
SMU’s attack, particularly their wingbacks, tormented the Syracuse defense throughout the match.
Any hopes of a Syracuse comeback were quickly dashed in the final half:
Charles-Emile Brunet scored in the 50th minute.
Stephan Soghomonian scored his 12th goal of the season in the 60th minute to make it 4-0.
Landon Hickman finished SMU's reign in the 83rd minute when he was able to net the ball off an assist from Clanton-Pimentel, making it 5-0.
Syracuse finally got on the board late. Junior Nathan Scott was awarded a penalty kick and slotted the ball past Mustang goalkeeper Martin Dominguez in the 85th minute to make the final score 5-1.
The dominant win sends SMU to its first-ever ACC Championship final, where they will face Virginia.
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Friday, November 14, 2025
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Saltus Grammar Claim Middle School Over 13 Title
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Saltus Grammar School were crowned champions of the Bermuda School Sports Federation’s Middle School Over 13 Six-A-Side tournament at Shelly Bay Field, securing a decisive victory in the final and avenging an earlier loss to their rivals.
Saltus defeated Warwick Academy 3-1 in the championship match. The winners initially took a 1-0 lead through Xavi Dill, but Warwick Academy struck back just before the break with an equalizing goal from Caleb Mello. The second half belonged to Saltus, who scored two unanswered goals from Vashun Martin and Tanaaj Thorpe to seal the win and lift the trophy .
Saltus earned their place in the final with a commanding 4-0 victory over Sandys Secondary Middle School in the Semi-Final. The goalscorers for the champions were Mackay Browne, Asa Trew Smith, Dill, and Xonti Burch, showcasing the team's potent attacking depth.
Warwick Academy's journey to the final was far more dramatic, requiring a sudden death penalty shootout to defeat Somersfield Academy in the other Semi-Final. Somersfield took a 1-0 lead through Sholoh Stevens, but a last-gasp freekick from Freddie Jones forced the game into the tense penalty shootout, where Warwick ultimately prevailed.
BSSF Middle School Over 13 Six-A-Side Results
POOL A
6 Dellwood Middle
1 MSA
1 Warwick Academy
0 Saltus Grammar
2 Saltus Grammar
0 Dellwood Middle
3 Warwick Academy
1 MSA
5 Warwick Academy
0 Dellwood Middle
5 Saltus Grammar
1 MSA
POOL B
1 Somersfield Academy
1 Bermuda Institute
2 Whitney Institute
2 Sandys Middle School
1 Sandys Middle School
1 Bermuda Institute
2 Somersfield Academy
0 Whitney Institute
3 Whitney Institute
2 Bermuda Institute
2 Sandys Middle School
0 Somersfield Academy
Semi Finals
4 Saltus Grammar
0 Sandys Middle School
1 Warwick Academy – (won on penalties)
1 Somersfield Academy
FINAL
3 Saltus Grammar
1 Warwick Academy
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