Simply put, Fords soccer seems unstoppable. After going unbeaten in ten straight games, they now look to dominate the Inter-Ac competition.
At the Main Line Jamboree at Westtown, Seton Hall Prep seemed quite the Goliath, ranked top-three in New Jersey at the time. However, the Fords put together a complete 80-minute game, capped off by Sixth Former Aidan Zwilling’s half-volley to the side netting. 1-0 Fords win.
The Fords undoubtedly faced their toughest challenge in The Pennington School, another top-ranked team in New Jersey. Notably, their player number 10 bore the nickname of “Black Messi.” But no Messi could stop the Fords.
Fifth Former Andrew Yang, just five minutes into the game, hit a left-footed power shot from long distance which escaped the goalkeeper’s gloves. Later, Fifth Former Jose Hernandez weighed his set piece so that captain and Sixth Former Finn French could head the ball to the left of the goalkeeper. 2-0 Fords win.
“That away game at Pennington, I just feel like that was [the best moment], and then the bus ride home, it was a really cool experience,” Fifth Former Chris Bryan said.
Astonishing as it is that the Fords are finding such success early on, what’s more is that they haven’t even let in a goal yet.
“The season so far has been going great,” Fifth Former Quinn Cappo said. “Undefeated, no goals conceded. As a team, this is one of the best environments we’ve had in a long time. The team has definitely progressed.”
Indeed, the defense, led by captains and Sixth Formers Hudson Coulson and Chris Burnetta, has rarely even let any shots through. Often, with new standards and success, comes a pressure to perform.
“We’ve created such a strong bond as a team that the pressure isn’t really there anymore,” Sixth Form captain Graham Costello said. “The pressure isn’t as much there as we’ve learned how to play with each other, and we just keep the same mentality every game moving forward.”
Others echoed Costello’s message.
“A lot of things work really well, like how our team works together as a whole,” Fifth Former Chris Bryan said. “Our culture brings the team together. It makes us better as a whole, and we want better for each other. We’re defending a title. I wasn’t on the team last year, but I already see how much it means to be on a team like this. I feel like everyone works so hard on the field, and we’re just so focused on being the best version of ourselves as a team.”
In their first Inter-Ac matchup, the Fords took on Springside Chestnut Hill. After 68 minutes of high-intensity play, the Blue Devils and Fords remained deadlocked until Costello snagged a corner and quickly launched a counterattack. Zwilling played the ball through to Third Former Oliver Green, who, in his first few Inter-Ac minutes, dribbled 40 yards down the left sideline before slipping the ball left of the goalkeeper for the game’s only score—1-0 Fords win. Numerous Blue Devils rested their hands on their heads as they watched their season possibly slip away.
That intensity extends beyond the final whistle, beginning with the energy the Fords bring before they even step onto the field.
“My favorite part about the team is having juice during pregame warm-ups,” Fifth Former Chase Timmerman said.
The heavily anticipated matchup between the Fords and Friars took place on a Friday night, with many students filling the sidelines behind the Fords’ bench.
“It [the student section] really brought the sort of energy we needed,” Third Former Dixon Gillis said.
However, the game did not go as expected, with the Friars opting for a low block—a defensive structure where the team often stays in their own half to win the ball and prevent attacks rather than a high press.
“We like to fight to the end. We never stop. We pick each other up, especially in bad times.”
Jose Hernandez ’28
Apart from a few crosses, headers, and long-distance shots, the Fords could not seem to penetrate the Friars’ defensive structure. Tensions brewed as their rivals kept the Fords scoreless for nearly 70 minutes. Then, French drove down the right sideline, cut back into the box, and caught a Friar defender lunging. French tucked the penalty away and the Fords held on. 1-0 Fords win.
“Our grit is the best part of our team,” Hernandez said. “We like to fight to the end. We never stop. We pick each other up, especially in bad times.”
That grit is supported by a strong team environment.
“The best part is the environment,” Sixth Former Lukas Messick said. “I just love playing soccer with my friends and brothers.”
After taking their cleats off after their captain’s practice one Saturday, the Fords dressed up and scared kids at the service event Shiverfest. Moments like this remind players that the team is much more than soccer.
“My favorite part of the team is just getting to know my teammates,” Quinn Cappo said.
“Every day, we just get closer and closer, and we’re just so friendly,” Fifth Former Jackson Gilbert said. “That’s how we can get to the places that we’ve been, because we’re so close.”
Despite slight slowdowns against SCH and Malvern, the Fords have stayed true to the way they want to play.
“This team is very close, and we can all have fun, but also have the mentality of wanting to win it all.”
Graham Costello ’27
“We’re taking one game at a time,” Bryan said. “People aren’t tearing each other down. We’re building each other up. We’re working together on things in practice and always having a good time. I also feel like everyone on our team is a very hard-working individual. They all want to win.”
“Enjoy every moment, Costello said. “This team is very close, and we can all have fun, but also have the mentality of wanting to win it all.”
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