With a young roster and a challenging schedule, the Kingswood Oxford boys varsity soccer team has faced an uphill battle this season. Despite a series of difficult results, the Wyverns have continued to work hard, build chemistry, and develop the experience needed to compete against older and more experienced opponents.
The team’s recent results have been mixed. KO fell to Kent 4-1 on Oct. 14 and Frederick Gunn 4-2 on Oct. 21, but earned an important first 5-2 victory over Pomfret at home on Oct. 17.
For senior goalkeeper Captain Priyam Chokshi, the season has been about maintaining the team’s work ethic while learning to turn its effort into results. “I don’t think we have performed to the best of our abilities, but we always work hard every second of every game,” Chokshi said. “That’s a non-negotiable.”
The team’s youth has played a major role in shaping its season. After having nine seniors last year, KO has just two seniors this season, two of whom are goalkeepers. The younger roster has created a different dynamic, requiring returning players to take on greater leadership responsibilities while helping newer players adjust to varsity competition.
Head Coach Richard Shaw said he expected the team to face difficulties because of its age, but has been encouraged by the players’ response. “I expected our boys to find it very tough going due to the team being incredibly young,” Coach Shaw said. “I have been very pleased to see how resilient our boys have been despite the difficulty of facing much older and experienced competition.”
For Chokshi, being captain means more than leading the team during games. He sees his role as setting an example through both his attitude and his willingness to support his teammates, especially when results are not going their way. “Being captain is leading the team, of course, but it is also being there if a teammate needs to talk about something,” Chokshi said. “It’s about being a helping hand, whether that’s grabbing the cones or the pinnies.”
Chokshi has also learned that leadership requires him to maintain his own standards while supporting the rest of the team. As a goalkeeper and one of the team’s leaders, he believes that keeping a positive attitude is essential when the Wyverns face difficult opponents. “When a goal is let in, I always try to keep my head up, because if mine goes down, my teammates will follow suit,” Chokshi said. “Me and Danny being the anchor in the back is important to keep the whole ship afloat.”
One of the team’s biggest challenges early in the season was finding its footing offensively. According to Chokshi, the team struggled to score goals at the beginning of the season, which affected its morale. However, recent performances have helped the players gain confidence in their ability to find the back of the net.
Coach Shaw has also seen improvement in the team’s attack. “We have been moving the ball better and creating more chances in recent games,” Coach Shaw said. That progress was particularly clear in the team’s Oct. 17 matchup against Pomfret. Playing at home, KO secured a 5-2 victory, with junior attacker Lou Sauer scoring a hat trick and sophomore mid fielder Jooyeol Baek adding two goals. The win was a significant confidence boost for a team that had been working to overcome its early-season struggles.
Although Chokshi was not present for the match, he said the result still had a major impact on him. “The win against Pomfret,” Chokshi said when asked which moment brought the team together. “I wasn’t even there, but I felt the emotions in the car when Quinn called and told me that we won 5-2. I was ecstatic. That win put a bunch of confidence in our team, and showed ourselves that we can do it.”
The Wyverns followed that victory with a difficult away match against Frederick Gunn on Oct. 21, losing 4-2. Eighth-grader center back Jack Ritter and freshman right back Isaiah Shobola scored for KO, showing the contributions of players across the roster. Earlier, on Oct. 14, the team fell 4-1 away at Kent, with junior center back Aaron Anstead scoring off a corner kick. On Saturday Oct. 31, the boys faced Avon Old Farms, one of the toughest teams in the league, and put up a great fight. Staying scoreless throughout the first half. The team went down 2-0 in the second half, but Baek was able to find the back of the net putting the team down only 2-1 for the majority of the second half. The team conceded a penalty kick with a minute left; however, this 3-1 loss was a big game for the boys, showing that they can hang with larger teams.
Despite these results, the coaching staff and players have continued to emphasize perseverance rather than dwelling on losses. For Sauer, maintaining a positive attitude has been one of the most difficult parts of the season. Sauer said the team has remained close despite its struggles, with players supporting one another both on and off the field. “We are a pretty tight group, nobody is really ever left out of a conversation,” Sauer said.
That team chemistry has helped the players continue competing even in difficult circumstances. Sauer pointed to the team’s game against Westminster, when KO had no substitutions available but still persevered through the entire match. He also highlighted the importance of continuing to compete when a game seems out of reach. “It is important to continue to try your hardest even when the game seems as though it is lost,” Sauer said.
For Coach Coach Shaw, helping the players maintain that mindset has been one of the most important responsibilities of the season. Rather than allowing short-term results to affect the team’s determination, he wants the players to focus on their development and the opportunities ahead. “The biggest challenge has been keeping everyone focused on the future and staying determined regardless of the short-term results,” Coach Shaw said.
Beyond their work on the field, Coach Shaw believes that the character of the players has been one of the team’s greatest strengths. “Great kids and great characters,” he said. “We have a great group of young lads.” The team’s youth may present challenges now, but it also gives the program a strong foundation for the future. With younger players gaining varsity experience and returning players learning to lead, the season has become an opportunity for long-term growth.
Chokshi said one of the team’s greatest strengths is its willingness to continue working regardless of the score. “We don’t stop working, we don’t stop trying, we just don’t stop,” Chokshi said when describing the team’s identity.
As the season continues, the Wyverns hope to turn that determination into more victories. Chokshi wants the team to compete against its toughest opponents and take advantage of games in which it has a realistic chance to win, while Coach Shaw hopes to see the players earn results that reflect their improvement. “We want to win some key games that we know we are capable of,” Coach Shaw said.
Although the results have not always gone their way, the Wyverns have continued to build their chemistry, improve their play and gain valuable experience. With a young roster and a strong work ethic, the team is looking to finish the season on a high note while laying the groundwork for future success.
