The Crimson Tide’s boys’ soccer season kicked off Thursday against Portsmouth High School at Memorial Field. Unfortunately for Concord, they were battered 7-2 by Portsmouth’s strong attack. 

The push from Portsmouth started early in the first half as they scored three goals in the first twenty minutes.

Eight minutes into the game the Tide’s defense fell asleep as the ball rolled to Portsmouth’s striker, Woodley St. Pierre, and he hit it into the lower left corner out of reach for Concord’s goalkeeper, Jaxson Leyton.

The Clippers’ second goal came less than two minutes later when Gar Hindle smashed it into the top of the net off a set-piece.

After the rough start, the game slowed down and the Tide regained some control. They were able to attack and send shots on target until a swift counter-attack by Portsmouth left Sumaili Ramadhani alone against three sprinting attackers. Briggs Catino scored, and the Tide were down 3-0.

Concord kept pushing and its first goal came shortly after, when a shot by Dedieu Lukuse was parried by the Clippers’ goalkeeper and Dean Ayotte was able to convert it to keep the Tide in the game.

Portsmouth scored once again before the end of the half when midfielder Nathan Conner sent a rocket from outside the box that hit the crossbar and went in.

Concord came out of the second half with force and Irankunda Mvuyekure scored from the edge of the box after a brilliant pass by Drayden Nyambo from half field.

The renewed effort from the Tide was noticeable, but multiple errors kept them from consolidating moving forward.

“It was tough loss, but I feel like we can improve on our communication,” said Mvuyekure, one of Concord’s goalscorers. “We could make it better and stick together, try not to fall apart.”

Portsmouth was able to sit back and control the game while converting three more goals off set-pieces and counter attacks. Concord did not give up on the score and attacked even as the clock ticked down and their legs got heavy. Head coach Dunlop noted set-pieces as a particular weakness that they will train in the coming weeks.

“The character team came out today. The score may not indicate that, but how we continue to battle, and compete, regardless of the score, is what we're really encouraging,” said Dunlop.

Many of their chances in the second half could have gone in if it weren’t for a stellar performance by Portsmouth’s Cunha, who had seven saves throughout the game.

“If we keep on having the energy, the effort that we’re putting in today, we're going to be really good,” said Mvuyekure.

A returning starter, Kaelen Williams, was notably missing from the back line due to injury. The lessons learned in this game by the young defense will hopefully carry through as they try to make a run at the playoffs after narrowly missing out last season.

Their next game is at home against Bishop Guertin on Tuesday.