Meridian High School’s boys’ soccer team has a much younger look in 2024 after winning the VHSL Class 3 championship a year ago, and growing pains were to be expected in this rebuilding season after nine seniors from that squad graduated, including Class 3 State Player of the Year Alex Gardner and starting goaltender Inigo Diz. The boys started out the season going 1-3 in four road matchups before winning their home opener against Briar Woods, and would look to improve to .500 on the other side of their Spring Break as they hosted Wakefield on Friday night.

Unfortunately it was evident from the early going that Wakefield had the Mustangs outmatched, controlling possession through most of the first half and eventually scoring with just under fifteen minutes remaining. They added a second tally moments later and took a 2-0 lead into the break, and although Fletcher Saaty got one back for Meridian early in the second period, two more Wakefield goals put this one away for the visitors. Yanek Guziewski was able to score late to make the final result 4-2, but the damage was done, and the Mustangs drop to 2-4 on the year.

On the bright side, they’ll have another quick chance to get back in the win column on Monday when they take on John Lewis, also at home.