Midway through the first half of the scrimmage on Friday between Indian Mountain and Hotchkiss, IMS defender Colin calmly settled a pass from his goalie Jake, juked past a Hotchkiss attacker, and weaved a beautiful pass forward through the Hotchkiss defense to set a up breakaway goal for his teammate Michael.  It was an individual play that demonstrated the type of poise the IMS team displayed throughout their match against Hotchkiss and left the Falcon coaches excited about the team’s prospects for the upcoming season.

The scrimmage gave each player on the young IMS team a chance to prove why they deserve a starting spot heading into the season, but they played well as a group nonetheless, passing unselfishly, and moving the ball fluidly from defense to offense.  Defensively, Gerard did a fantastic job stepping into the role of sweeper when Colin left the field with an injury.  Jake started for the Falcons in goal and recorded a shut out through the first half before stepping out of the net for the second half. He made excellent decisions during his time guarding the net, making numerous saves, and stalled an otherwise strong Hotchkiss attack.

The team enjoyed a solid effort on the field from both starting and supporting players, and the Falcon coaches feel they successfully accomplished the team goals of establishing and maintaining good communication on the field, using the full width of the field by spreading the ball wide, using support and square passes often, and having fun.  The scrimmage provided excellent experience for the team, and coaches will continue working with their players to prepare for the first game of the season next Wednesday away against Millbrook.