My fall soccer season opened today. We played a team called MPS Silver on their home field at Middlesex School. Having been promoted to Division 1 last spring we will be facing a significantly different class of opponent this season. The team got off to a shaky start but finished strong. It was a tough match and the 0-0 result was a fair outcome. I was pleased with my game. I dispossessed the defense several times and had three shots, all on frame. My last shot cost me a layer of skin off my right knee. I had just beat two defenders and was off balance, literally falling forward in slow motion as I approached the goalie who was rushing forward to cut down the angle. A tiny shove from behind was all it took to send me head over heels. 3 refs in 4 would have awarded a penalty. Had I made a dramatic flop instead of a last-ditch effort to score I might have got the call.

Nicolai spent the entire day at a concert in Boston and was not able to join the remainder of the family for a farewell dinner for Kyle who returns to college at Santa Clara University later this week.