On Saturday, the boys boarded the bus at 7 a.m. for the long ride up to Farmington. It is always hard to play up in Farmington on a fast, large turf field and against an athletic and determined 5A foe.

The game started with a scare when Farmington won an early corner and the resulting shot was saved when a diving Lucas Schlenzig ’18 blocked it into the side post and then Nick Williams ’18 cleared it off the line. Prospects turned when the Academy started finding ways into the attack. On an Albuquerque Academy corner, the ball wasn’t cleared and it fell to Charles Touche ’17, who blasted it into the back of the net. A few minutes later, Charles did it again when, with his back to the goal, Charles kicked it over his head and into the goal. The Academy was up 2-0 and looking like they were starting to roll. To their credit, Farmington dug in their heels and started to earn their share of possession. Their speedy left winger, cut inside and passed through the defensive line. Lucas blocked the ball and it bounced back to a Farmington player for a shot. Lucas parred it wide, into the oncoming path of another Farmington player who finished easily. The half ended 2-1.

In the second, Farmington went back to their talented left winger who cut through the defense and passed to a wide open teammate who finished into the side netting. Three minutes into the half, and the game was tied. The play would go back and forth numerous times with both Farmington and Albuquerque Academy earning opportunities but neither wresting control of the game. Regulation ended with the score still knotted.

In the break before overtime, the Academy players were angry at their lack of quality and were vocally encouraging each other while the Farmington team seemed spent. While neither team scored in the first ten minutes overtime period, two Farmington players went down with cramps and their attack fizzled. The Academy found dangerous balls in, but couldn’t get a shot off. In the second overtime, the Academy started coming forward in waves. With seven minutes left before the game would end in a tie, Tai Durell ’18 sent a long ball past the far post. Ryan Sabol ’18 settled the ball with his back to goal and took an aggressive touch to goal, rounded his defender and sent a dangerous cross through the goal mouth. Kenny Levandoski ’18, a recent call up from JV, arrived at the far post in time to send a tight angled shot at goal where it was stopped by a Farmington defender. He fell on the ball. As he got up and attempted to clear the ball, Charles dispossessed him and rifled the ball into the back netting.   

The game had been far from beautiful, but three unassisted goals from Charles earned the win. Albuquerque Academy is now 12-2-1, with three district games and an end of the regular season tilt against St. Pius left to play. They next face highly ranked Capital at home on Tuesday at 4:00 on Richard Harper Memorial Field.