Senior Night is always emotional, but for the Benjamin boys’ soccer team, it was also unforgettable. Before kickoff, the Bucs honored seniors James Carpenter, Desmon Flemming, Jake Froot, RJ Munder, Alex Perkins, and David Venoff, recognizing their years of commitment to the program.
“Senior Night really puts everything into perspective,” Munder noted. “You don’t realize how fast it all goes until you’re standing there hearing your name called. It means a lot to finish this chapter with the guys I’ve grown such a special bond with.”
For many seniors, the night was a chance to reflect on the season and their time in the program.
“This team has been through a lot together,” Perkins said. “We’ve had highs and lows, but the bond we’ve built is something I’ll always remember. That’s what makes nights like this special.”
Flemming echoed the importance of the bonds you get out of a team like this.
“It’s more than wins and losses,” Flemming exclaimed. “It’s the practices, the bus rides, the locker room moments. Senior Night makes you realize how much this team means to you.”
Head Coach Kris Steeves emphasized that message before the match even began.
“These seniors set the standard for what it means to wear the Benjamin B on their chest,” Steeves confidently remarked. “Their leadership goes far beyond the field, and tonight was about honoring that while still competing the right way,” explained Coach Steeves.
While emotions ran high before the match against Suncoast’s Chargers, the Bucs knew they still had a job to do.
The Chargers struck early, scoring within the first two minutes of the game and one right before the water break, stunning the home crowd.
Following the water break, head coach Coach Steeves made a bold move, pulling all the seniors and several players off the field for a sideline conference.
“He wanted to make a point,” Froot said. “It wasn’t about yelling, but about accountability and realizing we needed to step up.”
Rather than easing off, Coach Steeves used the moment as a reality check, challenging his team to refocus and raise their intensity.
At halftime, down, Coach Steeves delivered a message that changed the match.
“He sat us all down and told us the game wasn’t over,” Froot noted. “He reminded us who we are and what we’re capable of. I’ve never heard a better halftime speech. It fired everyone up.”
Coach Steeves then sent his players back onto the field with renewed energy.
“We needed to reset mentally,” Coach Steeves said. “Once they understood that, I trusted them to respond.”
The response came quickly in the second half.
Junior Jake Giovanni jump-started the comeback with a goal that shifted momentum back to the Bucs. Just minutes later, junior Matthew Null found the back of the net to level the score.
“We finally started playing with confidence,” Null said. “Once that first goal went in, you could feel the energy change. The crowd was getting rowdy, and the momentum was on our side.”
Another one was added to the board by junior Alex Calvo-Ayers to give Benjamin the lead, igniting the bench and crowd. Moments later, Carpenter added another goal, extending the advantage and putting the game firmly in Benjamin’s control.
The comeback was inspiring to watch for freshman Blake German.
“Seeing the seniors step up like that was huge,” German exclaimed. “It showed us how to respond when things don’t go our way.”
The final highlight of the night came from an unexpected place. Eighth grader Matty Bartoli scored his first goal in his first high school game, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
“It felt amazing,” Bartoli said with a smile. “Scoring in a high school game, especially on Senior Night, is something I’ll never forget. The support from everyone meant a lot.”
Junior Cian Hoban, sidelined the past few weeks with a fractured shoulder, watched from the sideline and couldn’t help but feel proud.
“Not being able to play has been tough,” Hoban said. “But watching the guys fight back like that, especially on Senior Night, was incredible. It shows what this team is about.”
Freshman Jackson Jefferies said the night set a standard for the future.
“That’s the kind of effort we want to carry on,” he said. “The seniors really set the tone.”
When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard told the story. It was a comeback win powered by leadership. But the night was about more than goals.
“For us seniors, this was special,” said senior David Venoff. “To come back like that, at home, on Senior Night, it’s something we’ll remember forever.”
As the Bucs continue their season, Senior Night served as a celebration of the past. It is a reminder of what the program stands for as they enter the playoffs feeling confident.
