By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Riverside was faced with a tough task on Tuesday as it hosted Country Day. While the Rebels hung tough early on, the Cajuns depth and experience paid off with a 6-0 victory at Riverside.

Country Day (3-2-2) led only 1-0 at halftime, but began to find cracks in the Rebels defense in the second half.

“They’re older and more mature, and we knew that before the game,” said Riverside Coach Stephen Millet. “The guys stuck with the strategy we set going in. We were going to drop one more defender back and try to keep this thing close. We held tight, even if we rarely got it out of our area.”

Millet said that took a toll on his defense in the second half, as Country Day’s ability to control the ball constantly kept Riverside (0-3-2) players on the move.

“They flat wore us down,” said Millet. “They just scored one after another, all in close succession. I could tell their mental and physical bell had been rung.”

Millet, who coached the Country Day boys two years ago and was coaching against some of his former players for the first time, said that the elite competition that the Cajuns bring should be a positive by the season’s end.

“We’re just trying to learn from all these experiences. It’s something that should make us a better team in January,” he said.

Millet said that a bright spot has been the continued excellent play from goalkeeper Beau Gaudet.

“He’s been lights out, lately,” said Millet. “He’s only a sophomore, but he just takes to this like he’s been doing it for years. Everything we go over, it’s like a magnet to a refrigerator. It just sticks with him, and he’s showing it on the field.”