Brunswick possessed the ball the majority of the first half of its game against King today at Cosby Field, but had zero goals to show for it – a scenario that greatly changed in the second half.

The Bruins kept the pressure on the Vikings for most of the second half and had plenty to show for their efforts.

Tallying twice in the first three minutes of the second half and three times overall, Brunswick registered an impressive 3-0 win over King, raising its record to 7-4.

“We capitalized on all our chances and we kept the intensity really high,” Brunswick senior forward Gavin Foster said of the team’s second performance. “We haven’t really controlled a game like that all season. We were in the attacking third for the entire second half and I’m really proud of the boys.”

The victory was Brunswick’s fifth in its last six games. Their loss during that stretch was a 6-0 road defeat against South Kent.

“It was good to get back on track,” said Brunswick coach Danny Simpson, who is in his fifth season at the helm. “We had a tough game last week (South Kent) and that was a very good opponent we played today. King played some great football. They’re well-coached, they’re well-versed they had a strategy – they make you work hard and chase the ball, so we had to do that in abundance today. Any time we took a half a second off, the ball was back in their half.”

Following a first half that saw the Bruins earn several corner kicks and free kicks and King keep it a scoreless game, the home team wasted little time in taking the lead in the second half.

Senior forward Nico Montoni, one of the Bruins’ top playmakers, tallied in the fifth minute of the second half, making it 1-0. Midfielder Jeffrey Ruiz set up Montoni’s goal, which settled inside the left post.

“It was a nice 1-2 play with me and Jeffery Ruiz, we were able to penetrate the back line and finish from around the top of the box into the bottom corner,” said Montoni, a senior captain. “Rotating players in, keeping the same intensity, tiring out the defense keeping the pressure on them led to our second half goals.”

In the 53rd minute (8:39 into the second half), the Bruins increased their edge. Brunswick capitalized on a corner kick, thanks to senior captain John Dunn, who rose up high for a header, which found the back of the net, giving his team a 2-0 lead.

“We their defense well in the first half and King did a great job of stopping crosses and giving us corners,” Simpson said. “But with our corners, we didn’t’ really test the keeper but in the second half, two of our three goals came off corners. We set a high tempo in the second half, which made them play uncomfortably under pressure.”

Indeed, the Bruins’ work rate each game has been especially impressive.

“We want to make that a staple of ours – hard work on the field, to make other teams work harder,” Simpson said. “I’m very happy, I think they are playing really well. We have a great group of lads, their temperament is great, their work rate is great and they leave it all on the field. It’s a pleasure to coach them.”

Senior Kaden Saad sealed Brunswick’s win scoring directly off a corner kick with 6:42 remaining in the second half. He lofted his corner kick perfectly past King’s goalie for a 3-0 Bruins lead.

“It took us a few minutes to capitalize on our chances and teammates,” Montoni said. “But we were able to capitalize on our chances in the second half.”

Senior goalie James Walker made several saves for the clean sheet for the Bruins, their first shutout since they blanked Choate Rosemary Hall in their season-opener, 1-0.

Up next for the Bruins is their Homecoming game against Hopkins School on Friday at 5 p.m.

“This win feels great, we’re up to 7-4 and we’re looking forward to hopefully, bringing that momentum into Homecoming this Friday,” Dunn said. We just raised our intensity and raised the bar today in the second half.”

Brunswick finishes a busy week Saturday, when it hosts Cheshire Academy at 10 a.m.

“We’re set up really well to finish out the season on a great note,” Dunn said. “We want to aim for the (NEPSAC) playoffs this season.”

Said Montoni: “Our goals are to win out the rest of our games and make the playoffs, which is very doable.”

The Bruins have limited their opponents to two goals or less in seven of their 11 games.

“This team rolls up their sleeves up and competes until the final whistle,” Simpson said. “There hasn’t been a game this season where we walked off the field frustrated, because we didn’t play our best.”