Varsity Girls Soccer

COMING THROUGH! Eagle Jessica Smith boots the ball upfield.
Jonatan Muñoz, International

Fired Up Eagles beat Griffins 2-0

By Sandi Wilcke
Christian Learning
After two consecutive losses, the Christian Learning girls varsity soccer team pulled through with a 2-0 victory over International Tuesday at the International field.
The first half was filled with kicks, catches -- and no goals. Two different Eagle forwards missed penalty kicks and the coaching staff wondered if this match would be a repeat of the previous 1-0 loss to the Lady Griffins.

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FOOT RACE -- The ever-dangerous Eagle Mariela Salinas (3) tries to get a step ahead of Griffin defenders. She later scored.

Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning.

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A near-miss by Mariela Salinas on a partial breakaway added to the concern on the sideline. At half time, both coaches were tense because they felt their teams were not ready for what appeared to be an inevitable penalty shootout.
In the second half, the Griffin defense finally gave way. Mariela Salinas broke through and netted the first Eagle goal of the season, threading the ball into the white grid of the Griffin net.
The Eagle insurance goal came on a low shot by midfielder Jessica Smith that the Griffin goalie, to her chagrin, misplayed into the cage behind her.
Both teams played with daring and spunk. The game ended 2-0 with the Eagles soaring ahead with their first real “W” of the season (i.e., not counting the forfeit win over Cambridge.
Sometimes opportunity knocks, and sometimes it shuts the door. This time it opened the way for the Eagles who are now tied with International for second place in their regular season duel with identical 2-2 records, and virtually makes it certain that these two teams will meet again in the playoffs to battle for the right to attempt to unseat the reigning Cooperative Jaguars and celebrate 'round the championship trophy.

Jaguars blank Knights, win 7-0

The Cooperative girls varsity remained unbeaten and unscored-up after beating Cambridge 7-0 on their home field Tuesday afternoon.
The score fails to reflect the fact that the Lady Knights put up a spirited fight, particularly in the early going. The Jaguars didn't score until midway through the first half, and led by the relatively close margin of only 2-0 at the half, with the goals being scored by Maria Paz Rivera and Paola Querejazu.
The Knights fended off numerous Jaguar incursions thanks to agile goal-tending by Raquel Lopez and hustling defense. Lopez also got off several long kicks that carried well into the Jaguar zone. However, the Cambridge offense was not able to press the attack successfully against the Jaguar defense, which scored its f0urth consecutive shutout.
In the second half the Jaguars began to hit on all cylinders, and Cambridge seemed to be worn down. Maria Paz Rivero added a second goal, and the Jaguars also got goals from Maria Fernanda Antelo, Fernanda Vaca Diez, Tania Landivar, and Cecelia Aponte to make the final score 7-0.

JV Girls Soccer

STEP THIS WAY -- Griffin Natalia Johnson appears to give dance instruction to Eagle attacker. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Christian Learning 3, International 0
Gritty Little Eagles Strike Again!

By K. Wilcke
Christian Learning
The Christian Learning junior varsity girls soccer team laid undisputed claim to first place for at least the next two weeks after a convincing 3-0 victory over International at the International field Tuesday..
League scoring leader Emily Ordoñez struck paydirt for the Little Eagles early in the first half as she pushed the ball past the goalie, and deftly left-footed the ball into the net.
Samia Dajbura added the second goal just before half time on a beautiful arcing shot over the goalie’s head.
Ordoñez notched an insurance tally midway through the second half on a breakaway down the middle.
The feisty Little Griffins did have a number of good chances at goal due to the skill of their forwards, but Eagle goalie Rebekah Kienzle was equal to the task and posted the shutout.
The outstanding defensive play of Jessi Suarez and Tamara Vargas helped keep the Griffins at bay, and sweeper back Sandi Wilcke closed the door.
The Little Eagles now get a bye week to rest up before their rematch with Cooperative, who they tied earlier in the year 2-2.
The regular season championship will be decided in that game two weeks hence when the Little Eagles and Jaguars face off in the final game of the season.

Varsity Boys Volleyball

BRINGING THE HEAT -- Eagle Andres Larsen (7) prepares to pound the ball floorward.
Jonatan Muñoz, International

Eagles win squeaker against Griffins

By Maria Claudia Bernal
International School
The Christian Learning boys varsity volleyball team defeated International in three sets in a furiously contested match played in the Griffins gym Tuesday afternoon.
As the first set began Christian Learning made the first few points, taking an early lead 7-4. As the game continued, the Griffins made some pretty good strikes, which put them back on track. International began to catch up with Christian Learning, and tied the game at 8-8.

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JUMP BALL --

Eagle Cesar Flores (12) and Griffin Juan Narvaez (5) battle for control.(Corrected 10/12)

Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

The game went on like this, with the momentum going back and forth. Christian Learning would get ahead, then the Griffins would catch up, making the game very entertaining.
But after the Griffins had come within one point of another tie at 21-20, the Eagles put on a closing spurt and won the set 25-20, concluding with spikes by Danny Canaviri and Jesse Hallock, plus an emphatic rejection of an attempted Griffin spike by Canaviri.
In the second set Christian Learning again took the lead at the start, but it was just a matter of time before the Griffins caught up with them at 16-16. Once again the momentum swung back and forth, but this time the Griffins had the upper hand. They won 25-22, forcing a third set.
The Griffins had only six players in uniform, leaving them no substitutes, while the Eagles had a full complement of 12 players, seeming to give them the advantage in a long match.
However, it was the Griffins who seemed to have their energy turned on as the third set began, and they took an early lead. Nevertheless, the two teams were soon tied at 8-8.
They battled evenly, with ties at 11-11, 12-12, and 13-13. However, at that point the Eagles took the next two points on a strong serve by Andres Larsen followed by an artful lob by Nicolas SWmith into an undefended back corner to win the set, and take the match 15-13.

Jaguars' power, consistency beats Knights

The Cooperative boys varsity volleyball team posted a straight sets victory over Cambridge in their home gym Tuesday afternoon.
The Jaguars won by the lopsided counts of 25-8 and 25-12, but the match was more closely contested than the scores might indicate. The story of the match was not that the Knights were that bad, but that the Jaguars were that good.
The points at the beginning of the match were decided on long rallies, during which both teams made many outstanding plays to keep the ball going. However, the Jaguars seemed to never miss, no matter how well placed Cambridge's hits might be, and forged an 8-2 advantage, and basically kept that ratio up until they won the set 25-8.
The Knights did marginally better in the second set, in which Cooperative substituted freely. The score was 25-12 in favor of the Jaguars.
All told Cambridge put up a respectable fight, especially considering that two of their starting players had played the junior varsity game earlier.
But the story was the impressive play of the Jaguars. They moved the ball around with exquisite precision and seemed able to retrieve almost anything Cambridge could throw at them. They repeatedly set up their big men for hard smashes at the net and wore the Knights down with seemingly relentless pressure.

JV Boys Volleyball

Eagle JV beats Griffins in three sets

The Christian Learning boys junior varsity volleyball team defeated International 2-1 Tuesday in a hard-fought match at the International gym.

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DECIDING MOMENT -- The Griffins won this duel atop the net to take the second set.
Jonatan Muñoz, International






The Eagles won the first set 25-22, but the Griffins came back to take the second set 25-20, setting up a third and deciding set. Christian Learning won the third set 15-11 to win the match

Little Jaguars beat Cambridge, 2-0

The Cooperative junior varsity boys volleyball team defeated Cambridge in straight sets Tuesday in their home gym
The two teams battled evenly at the start of the match, with a number of valiant rallies, and were tied 18-18 before the Jaguars put on a late surge to take the set 25-18.
The momentum carried over into the second set, in which Cooperative moved out to a commanding 10-3 lead, as dissension set in among the Cambridge players, and several balls were allowed to drop in untouched due to lack of effective communication.
Cooperative got the score to 24-13 before Cambridge began a last ditch rally that brought the score to 24-19 before the Jaguars could finally shut the door.

Mid-season Review

The Year of the Jaguar?

The story of the first half of the soccer and volleyball season has been the dominance of Cooperative – and the story of the second half is likely to be whether the Jaguars can maintain that record with everyone else gunning for them.
Cooperative has gone through the first half without losing a single contest, varsity or junior varsity, soccer or volleyball. (Indeed, the only blemish on the school’s escutcheon is a tie with Christian Learning in junior varsity girls soccer.) No team has ever done that before in League history.
Here’s the rundown in each sport.

Boys Soccer
The Jaguar girls have been a perennial power in soccer, but to have the Jaguar boys team atop the standings with an undefeated 3-0 record at midseason is something novel. The Jaguar boys have not, in fact, won a soccer championship since 2004, the year the League was founded.
But this year’s Jaguars look like the real deal, outscoring its opponents 22 to 6 in its first three games, winning in each case by at least three goals and embarrassing Cambridge. The defending champions, 11-1.
The Jaguars have developed many ways to hurt their opponents. They have four players who have scored at least three goals this season (a goal per game) and their leading scorer, Juan Manuel Vasquez, is on track, with nine goals, to set a new League scoring record.
Still, there could be bumps in the road ahead. Both Christian Learning, now in second place, and International have shown they can play the Jaguars evenly for most of the game. They just have to find a way to do it for the whole game.
Cambridge is continuing a recent trend (now close to becoming a tradition) that the defending champion in the boys League tends to have a horrid first half the following year. However, the team has come on strong after slow starts in the past. Never quite this slow, perhaps, but in Junior Sanchez they have a player who can, on a given day, change the odds in a game. .

Girls Soccer
The Jaguar girls mastery in the first half was less unexpected than that of the Jaguar boys since the girls have most of the players back from a team that went undefeated last year, but the degree of their mastery has nonetheless been impressive.
The Jaguar girls varsity at mid-season is undefeated, untied – and unscored upon. They went through their first half opponents with a combined score of 18-0. And there haven’t even been all that many shots on the Jaguar goal, thanks to a tough and aggressive defense (not to mention a domineering offense).
All the same, both Christian Learning and International played respectable games against the Jaguar girls. (The Cambridge game was the only blowout -- 11-0.) If the Eagles and Griffins can find a way to crack the Jaguar defense they could threaten the Jaguar girls with something that they haven’t had to endure for several years: Defeat.
The Cambridge team doesn’t look like a threat, but it should not be forgotten that two years ago they stung the Jaguars with a gritty 0-0 tie.

Boys Volleyball
Again the Cooperative boys are the surprise of the year. At 3-0 they have already won more games this year than they won all last year.
At the beginning of the year they had only one known spiking threat – Juan Alfredo Abuawad – but have developed several more in Mateus De Carvalho, and Milan Marinkovic. Wilson Salvatierra has proven much more than adequate as the team’s main setter.
Still, Christian Learning forced the Jaguars to a third set and can put up a front wall that is just as intimidating with veteran Danny Canaviri, tenth grader Andres Larsen, and freshly returned –from-the-US-junior Jesse Hallock. The Eagles, moreover, are known for coming on strong in the second half.
Nor can the Griffins be counted out. They have the best record in the League over the last several seasons, and are always well prepared. What they seem to lack this year is a big hitter, but there are several players who could step up to fill that bill in the second half.
Winless Cambridge would seem to be less of a threat, but they love to upset the Jaguars as they did two seasons ago when the Knights beat the Jaguars for their lone win of the year in the playoffs.

Girls Volleyball
What is perhaps most impressive about the showing of the Jaguar girls is that they started strong – and have seemed to get stronger each week. Their most impressive victory of the year was a straight sets defeat of the defending champion Eagles right before the Santa Cruz Day break.
But again the story is the same: The Jaguars can’t afford to let down their guard.
International forced the Jaguars into a third set. Cambridge had a 26-24 set against Cooperative in the opening game of the season, for which the Lady Knights were clearly unprepared. Christian Learning has a reputation for saving its best effort until the end of the year.
Still the Jaguars have plenty of height, and a lot of experience. Coach Misty Skidmore’s teams, moreover, have shown remarkable resilience and ability to rally when challenged.

Boys Varsity Soccer

SONG AND DANCE -- Eagle defenders do what they can, but shot by Jaguar Alfonso Roca (9) went in.
Juan Pablo Roda, Cooperative

Jaguars stay unbeaten, defeat Eagles 4-1

By Sandi Wilcke
Christian Learning
Whoosh! And there goes another goal for the SCCS Jaguars!
Or so it seemed by the end of the game in which the Cooperative boys varsity soccer team pulled through first half of the season undefeated after accomplishing a 4-1 defeat of Christian Learning at the Cooperative field Thursday. The Eagles, thouigh playing with everything the had few chances in the game, which was their first loss of the season.
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HEADING UPFIELD -- Jaguar Juian Manuel Vasquez heads the ball upfield in heavy traffic. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Both teams were playing everything they had, but the Eagles weren’t able to soar though the heavy storm. Wesley Ordonez,the goalie for the Eagles, had a rough day. In fact it was long and tiresome for the whole Eagle team -- though things had started reasonably well.
The first-half was a defensive battle in which the Jaguars moved the ball more successfully, but the Eagles actually had the better chances to score. At one point Eagle star Josh Mojica had a shot at an open Jaguar net, but the ball bounced off the far post.
The Jaguars did make the most of one of the chances they had, to score the only goal of the first half. It was an amazing achievement by Alfonso Roca because he kicked the ball backwards over his head with a bicycle kick that miraculously went by the goalie and straight into the net.
The Jaguars opened up a commanding lead in the second half on another goal by Roca, together with scores by Federico Sauto and Juan Carlos Laguna.
The only time the Eagles scored was at the very end, and what a goal it was. Danny Canaviri ran to the goal, fielded and teammate's pass as he arrived, and practically kicked thew ball right out of the goalie’s fingers.
During the game, many unexpected things occurred. The ball was kicked over the fence three times and eleven corner kicks were shot back and forth across the goal mouth by the two teams.
During the game, all the players did their best, but somebody had to end up on the greener side of the pasture.

Knights, Griffins battle to 3-3 deadlock

The Cambridge and International boys varsity soccer teams fought each other to a 3-3 tie in a game played at International Thursday afternoon.
International then won the post-game shoot-out 3-1, giving them an added point in the League standings.
Both teams had been 0-2 going into the game, so the outcome left them both technically winless, and arrayed at the bottom of the standings at the end of the first half of regular season play. This is incongruous because these teams have taken turns winning the league championship for the past several years.
The game also represented the return of Knight star Junior Sanchez, who had been in Tarija playing for the Santa Cruz team that won the national 18-and-under tournament, and he celebrated the occasion by scoring two of Cambridge's goals, both in the second half. His return seemed to buoy the spirits of his teammates, who had been outscored 17-6 in their first two outings. Cambridge had the only goal in the first half, and it was scored by Marlon Castillo. Well into the second half Sanchez dribbled through the International defense to notch a goal and make the score 2-0.
International made it 2-1 when Jan Ivo Sochtig launched an "olympian" corner kick that went into the goal untouched by any player.
Sanchez made it 3-1 when he connected on a penalty shot.
The gap was closed to 3-2 when Griffin Andres Estenssoro easily put the ball in the Cambridge net after he and a teammate managed a two-on-one breakaway.
Diego Nostas tied the score with a penalty shot. The two teams battled hard, and each had chances to score, during the final five minutes of the game. However, the scored stayed tied.
The shoot-out took place in semi-darkness, and the first shooters for both teams missed. The next three Griffin shooters connected, however, while two more Cambridge shots were blocked.

JV Boys Soccer

LONG SHOT -- Eagle Felipe Arce launches a free kick over Jaguar wall. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguars second half binge beats Eagles

Following a scoreless first half, the Cooperative junior varsity soccer team went on a six-goal tear in the second half to defeat Christian Learning 6-1 on the Cooperative field Thursday.
Josue Abuawad ws the main man for the Jaguars, tallying five times, varying artful and opportunistic scores. He scored once on a free kick, three times oin the attack, and once where he kicked in up a ball that had been fumbled by the goalie.
Interestingly, Abuawad did not remove his shirt after any of them. His dramatic disrobing after scoring in a previous game, which revealed a mock romantic message to the teacher who had restored his academic eligibility, had cost him a yellow card.
Team captain Rafael Sakuma added the Jaguars' sixth goal.
Richard Enns tallied near the end for the Eagles to avoid a shutout.
Jaguars Reinaldo Chavez, Sakuma, and Richard Salvatierra received yello cards during the game. There were no other penalty cards assessed.

For Griffin JV, one goal was enough

The International boys junior varsity scored a hard-fought 1-0 win over Cambridge on its home field Thursday.
The goal came about ten minutes before the game ended off the foot of Javier Barron, on a pass from Sergio Rosado.
Knights Kevin Mendez and Pablo Piovesin received yellow cards.

Varsity Girls Volleyball

TEAM PLAY -- Jaguar Karla Flores (5) sets the ball up for Ana Paola Peredo (8). Veronica Richter (2) looks on. Ximena Guzman, Cooperative

Girl Jaguars take Eagles in straight sets

The Cooperative girls varsity volleyball team, executing with machine-like efficiency, defeated Christian Learning two sets to none in a match played at the Jaguar gym.
Both teams had previously been undefeated, and Christian Learning had won last year's league championship by defeating Cooperative in the playoff finals. This time it was the Jaguars turn to win.
Cooperative jumped out to a quick 8-3 lead in the first set and were never headed.
Indeed they were ahead 18-8 when the Lady Eagles made a run built largely on an outstanding series of serves by Kaylyn Lampen that brought the score to 21-19.
The Jaguars at that point reasserted their dominance and took the set 25-19.
The pattern continued in the second set, with the Jaguars taking the lead right at the start 8-4. They lengthened their advantage to 12-5, benefiting from some blistering serves by Aldana Roda.
With the score at 21-13 Lampen again went to the service line, clearly intent on trying to spark another Eagle resurgence. Her serve went over the net fast and true, seemingly headed for an open spot. However, Sofia Sotelo scooted over and, from a squatting position, sent the ball back across the net as fast as it had arrived to score a point for the Jaguars and end Lampen's service.
Cooperative then quickly wrapped up the set, 25-16, and took the match.
The Jaguars clearly benefitted from the team's demanding practices -- some at 6:30 in the morning. They frequently took the three hits allowed to set up their taller players. Aldana Roda hit some of the strongest spikes. Karla Flores passed superbly whether up front or in the back row..
The Eagles got consistent serving and hitting by Mariela Salinas and Anna Phillips, who also did their best to rally their teammates verbally and by example, but this was the Jaguars' day.

Griffins score decisive win over Cambridge

The International girls varsity volleyball team won in straight sets over a Cambridge team which never seemed to find its rhythm in a match played at International.
International took the first set 25-16, and had only marginally greater difficulty taking the second 25-18. Both teams had 0-2 records going into the game, but had played well in their losing efforts and were thought to be evenly matched.

JV Girls Volleyball

Jaguar JV snuffs Eagle rally, wins 2-0

The Cooperative hunior varsity girls volleyball team looked as if it would cruise to an easy win over Christian Learning, but had to fight like crazy to keep victory from slipping away in the second set.
The game was playing the Jaguar gym Thursday.
The Little Jaguars had things entirely their own way in the opening set, winning 25-11.
They seemed to have the second set under control as well until the closing stages when the Eaglettes began eroding the Jaguar lead in big chunks until the score was tied at 22-22.
From that point the two teams went toe-to-toe with the lead changing hands once, and three ties before the Jaguars were finally able to put the set away 27-25.
The serving and returns of Rebecca Enns were a major factor in the Eagle resurgence.
The Jaguars got some terrific serving from Tamara Paz that won a number of important points. Captain Maria Jose Viacava also played a solid game.

Varsity Girls Soccer

Jaguars beat Eagles, extend streaks

The Cooperative varsity girls soccer team extened its unbeaten, untied, and unscored upon streaks to three games with a 4-0 victory ground out against a feisty Christain Learning team on the Cooperative field Tuesday.
Aldana Roda notched the Jaguars first goal about mid-way through the first half with a long blast into the left-hand side of the net from about 20 meters out.
Ceceilia Aponte added the Jaguars' second score when she knocked the ball into the goal on a corner kick. The Jaguars led 2-0 at the half.
Tania Landivar made it 3-0 for Cooperative when she took charge of the ball at about the midfield stripe and waggled her way through the Eagle defense to score.
The final Cooperative was scored by Giovanna Varalta when she slid, baseball- stye, into a scrum of players in front of the Christian Learning goal and impelled the ball past goalie Erica.
Cooperative had numerous other opportunities to score, but were trhwarted by a tenacious defense, intrepid goaltending, and some sloppy marksmanship. (The Jaguars were shooting high Tuesday.)
Christian Learning could get the ball into the Jaguar defensive zone from time to time, but only had two real chances to score, both by Abbie Phillips. In both cases she got past all the defenders but one, and that defender was able to prevent a clean shot.

Griffins defeat Lady Knights 4-0

The International varsity girls soccer team finally overcame a somewhat rejuvenated Cambridge team 4-0 in a game played at International Tuesday.
The score at the end of the first half was 1-0, with the goal being scored by Griffin Beatriz Nallar. This was Cambridge's strongest half this year. The Lady Knights lost their season opener to Cooperative 11-0, and then forfeited against Christian Learning.
The Griffins broke the game open in the second half with goals by Maria Victoria Gutierrez, Maria Isabel Barrenechea, and Ana Marin. International is now 2-1 and in clear possession of second place in the League. Their four goals represented their biggest output in a game so far this year.

JV Girls Soccer

RACE FOR THE BALL Jaguar Giuliana Varalta and Eagle Samia Dajbura battle.
Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

Gritty Little Eagles tie Jaguars 2-2

The Christian Learning found itself in first place at the end of the first half of the season after tying Cooperative 2-2 on Co-operative's home field Tuesday.
The Junior Eagles won the post-game shootout 3-1 to gain an extra point in the standings and put them narrowly ahead of the Jaguars and Griffins. (Cambridge has no junior varsity girls soccer team.)
The game also was the first contest of any kind that Cooperative has not won outright this season, though the school can still claim to be undefeated overall.
And probably the Jaguars led this game in every conceivable statistic -- shots on goal, time of possession, etc., etc. -- with the notable exception of the final score. Nonetheless, the Eagles actually took the lead in this game 1-0 when only a few minutes into the game Eagle Emily Ordoñez was fouled in the penalty area, and connected on the resulting penalty shot to make the score 1-0. Some Eagle fans were wondering if this might have been the first time in the last several years that the junior Eagles have been ahead of the Jaguars, but others thought there had been a previous occasion.
The Jaguars fought back and perpetrated a rapid series of near misses before Michelle Lederman, who would score both Jaguar goals, launched a short-range shot that oscillated rapidly at short range between Lederman and goalie Rebekah Kienzle, ultimately bouncing into the net.
The game continued into the second half with the Jaguars firing shot after shot at the doughty Eagle defenders without effect, until finally Lederman got another chance. She broke out of a bunched up group in front of the Christian Learning goal and knocked the ball in to put Cooperative ahead 2-1.
The game had one more twist to take, however. In the closing stages of the second half Eagle goalie Kienzle put up a booming kick with a gust of wind behind it that carried well into the Jaguar end. Samia Dajbura dashed ahead of the Jaguar defenders and neatly tapped the ball past Cooperative goalie Fabiana Andrade to tie the game 2-2, and that is how it finished.

Varsity Boys Volleyball

GOING UP Eagle Paul Estes (8) leaps to whack back Jaguar Milan Marinkovic's (9) slap shot, while Andres Larsen (7) looks on. Jaguar Mateus De Carvalho waits to defend.
Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

Jaguars win battle royale over Eagles

It started out as if the Cooperative varsity boys volleyball team was going to have an easy time of it Tuesday afternoon against Christian Learning in their home gym.
And the Jaguars would ultimately win two sets to one, but the Eagles would put them through a wringer in the process.
Everything went right for the Jaguars in the first set in which they took an early lead and then went on to win 25-10.
The Eagles' play was lackluster with numerous service errors, while the Jaguars clicked. Wilson Salvatierra artfully set up time after time an array of tall, hard-hitting froint men led by Juan Alfredo Abuawad, Mateus De Carvalho, and Milan Marinkovic.
The Jaguars played what might be called "Thinking Man's Volleyball" as they changed deliveries, smashing it one time, slapping into an open spot the next, then slashing across the court the time after that.
The Eagle resistance, however, stiffened dramatically in the second set, though the Jaguars continued to play well. Abuawad won several dramatic clashes at the net in the early going, but the score remained close, and the teams were tied at 9-9.
The Eagles began to go ahead on a set of efficient serves by Andres Larsen, and forged a widening lead as junior Jesse Hallock began to get his timing down on smashes at the net. And now, moreover, it was the Eagles who were showing a knack for slapping the ball into the open spot.
Then with score at 22-18 in their favor the Eagles put on a final surge to take the set 25-19. The final point came fittingly on a spike by Hallock through an attempted double block by the Jaguars.
However, it was the third set that made the match one of the most exciting played in recent years. The Eagles jumped off to a 4-0 lead and it looked for a moment that they were going to beat the Jaguars as soundly in this set as the Jaguars had beaten them in the opening set.
However, a fine service stint by Salvatierra, punctuated by some Abuawad spikes, brought the score to 5-5. Now the game became like warfare (without the killing) as the two teams outdid one another with impossible saves, hard-hit spikes, and, increasingly, amazing blocks.
Again the score was tied at 9-9, but this time it was the Jaguars who asserted themselves. De Carvalho helped move the score to 13-9 with two beatifully tapped balls to open spots.
After that it was once again all-out war as the Eagles brought the count to 14-12 during a series of points decided by long, brilliantly played rallies.
The final point was won in almost anti-climactic fashion as Marinkovic served an ace to an open spot in the middle of the court. Suddenly, there was silence. The war was over, 15-12.

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HANDS ACROSS THE NET Griffin Joaquin Casteñeda and Knight Matias Martinez have a touching encounter above the ball. Jonatan Muñoz, International


Griffins take the Knights in straight sets

The International varsity boys volleyball team got some stiff resistance from Cambridge in the opening set, but went on to take the match two sets to none in the International gym Tuesday.
The score of the opening set was 25-20, but the Knights resistance seemed to break down in the second set, which the Griffins won 25-13.

JV Boys Volleyball

Jaguar JV rallies to beat Eagles, 2-1

The Cooperative boys junior varsity volleyball team spotted Christian Learning the opening set, then came back to take the next two sets --and the match -- in action Tuesday in the Jaguar gym.
The Junior Eagles the opening set fairly handily 25-14 thanks to a closing surge that broke open what had initially been a tight game. The two teams had been tied at 13-13.
In the second set the Junior Jaguars seemed to get themselves organized. In the opening set the players who should have been the hitters were often the setters, and vice-versa. Now they seemed to get things in the proper order, and while play continued to be close, Cooperative gradually pulled ahead, finally winning 25-18.
This pattern continued in the third and deciding set, which the Jaguars won 15-10.

Griffin JV narrowly nips Knights, 2-1

The International junior varsity boys volleyball team finally downed an obstreperous Cambridge team two sets to one in a contest played at International Tuesday.
The two teams exchanged sets to open the match, with International taking the first set 25-20, and then Cambridge retaliating to take the second set by the exact same score.
The third set was also hard-fought, with International winning 15-10.

Varsity Boys Soccer

AGONY AND ECSTACY Jaguars celebrate, Griffins turn away in dismay, after Jaguar goal.
Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars take early lead, beat Griffins 7-4

The Cooperative boys varsity soccer team outscored International 7-4 in a free-swinging, high-energy game on their home field Thursday.
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JOY UNCONFINED --
Jaguars Alfonso Roca and Jean Bretel celebrate after Roca's second goal.
Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jose Manuel Vasquez, who would eventually have four goals on the day, opened the scoring for the Jaguars when he outlegged defenders pursuing a long free kick, taking charge of the ball after its second bounce and banging it into the goal.
The Jaguar second goal came under similar circumstances -- a long free kick from the Cooperative defensive zone -- but this time Vasquez deflected the ball to teammate Alfoso Roca, who put the ball in the net.
Griffin Jan Vos got the Griffins back in the game when he got loose in the Jaguar end and put the ball past Jaguar goalie Esteban Sauto.
And so it continued until there was a scoring explosion in the closing moments of the first half. Vasquez and Roca each scored again for Cooperative in rapid succession, after which Leigue Parada added a goal for International.
The score was 4-2 in favor of Cooperative at the half.
Vasquez scored two more goals in the second half, and Esteban Sauto added the Jaguars' seventh tally.
Jorge Harriague and Nicolas Bedoya scored the Griffins in the second half.
Three Jaguars received yellow cars in the game -- Eduardo Ribera, Esteban Sauto, and Federico Sauto. Harriague of International also received a yellow card.

UP AGAINST THE WALL Cooperative "bouncing wall" bounces up to block free kick by Griffin Jan Ivo Sochtig (10). Carlos Paredes, Cooperative


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AND THEY'RE OFF! -- Knights try to take the ball upfield against Eagle defense.
Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

Eagles top Knights in scoring fest, 8-5

In a game where the emphasis was emphatically not on defense, the Christian Learning boys varsity soccer team topped Cambridge 8-5. The game was played on the International field.
The teams were tied 3-3 midway through the first half, but the Eagles added two more goals before the intermission to lead 5-3 at the half.
The Eagles scored thre times in the second half to make the score 8-3 before Cambridge retaliated with two goals to make the final tally 8-5.
Eagle Andres Larsen led the game's scoring derby with four goals. Danny Caniviri had three and Geo Lim Pyung had one to round out the Christian Learning scoring.
For Cambridge, Alvaro Lopez and Gonzalo Prudencio each had two goals, and Kevin Pulis added a single tally. Prudencio received a yellow card, the only penalty card issued in the game.

TRIO OF DUELS -- Eagles and Knights battled one-on-one all afternoon. Andre Larsen (20) v. Pablo Piovesan (16) (left); Jose Luis Rivera (6) v. Geo Pyung Lim (12) (center), and Danny Canaviri (17) v Alvaro Lopez (2) (right). Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

JV Boys Soccer

Cambridge JV tops Christian Learning, 4-2

The Cambridge junior varsity boys soccer team scored a 4-2 victory over Christian Learning Thursday on the International field.
The Little Knights took a 3-2 lead at the half on goals by Kevin Mendez, Jose Luis Rivera, and Mauricio Soto. Richard Enns scored for the Junior Eagles.
Each team added a single tally in the second half. Rivera scored for Cambridge and Gaston Waldman for Christian Learning.

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CATCH ME IF YOU CAN -- Jaguar Gabriel Romero takes off upfield with Griffin in hot pursuit. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative


Cooperative JV defeats International, 3-2

The Cooperative junior varsity boys soccer team won 3-2 over International in a spirited clash on the Cooperative field Thursday.
Each team had a chance to lead. International was ahead 2-1 at the half on two goals by Sergio Rosado. The first came on a free kick, and the second when Rosado kicked home a corner kick.
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IN HEAVY TRAFFIC --
Jaguar Rafael Sakuma tries to push past two Griffin defenders.
Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jorge Zankis scored for the Jaguars when the International goalie came out too early to challenge him, enabling him to pop the ball over the goalie's head into the net.
Jaguar Josue Abuawad ignored the (for Santa Cruz) frigid temperature after he tied the score with a goal early in the second half. His score climaxed a nifty set of passes.
Zankis struck again a short while later to give the Little Jaguars their victory margin.

Girls Varsity Volleyball

POWER BALL -- Jaguar Carla Limpias rams home a spike, her teammates hold their breath. Jonatan Muñoz, International.

Eagles narrowly defeat Lady Knights, 2-1

They don't get much closer than the 2-1 victory the Christiuan Learning girls varsity volleyball team eked out over Cambridge Thursday in the International gym.
Cambridge took the opening set 25-18, but Christian Learning came back to squeeze oiut a 27-25 victory in the seco0nd set. The same pattern held in the third and deciding set as the Eagles emerged on to 15-13.

Jaguars take barn-burner from Griffins, 2-1

The Cooperative girls varsity volleyball team dropped the opening set of its match against International, but then stormed back to take the next two and win a match that was packed with thrills from beginning to end. It was played in the Cooperative gym Thursday.
International took the first set by the razor-thin margin of 26-24, overcoming a four-point lead the Jaguar girls had built up in the closing stages of the game.
Cooperative played more aggressively in the second set, taking it 25-19, and then managed to keep that rhythm going in the third set, which they won 15-11.
The closeness of the match underscored how evenly matched the girls varsity volleyball teams appear to be this year. Of the four games played so far, three have gone to three sets, and the only match that was decided in straight sets -- Cooperative vs. Cambridge last week -- one of the sets was decided by a 26-24 score.

JV Girls Volleyball

SETTING THE GOAL -- Jaguars Susana Zankis and Nicole Arias present a target for server Majo Vacava. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguar JV wins narrowly over Griffins

The Cooperative girls junior varsity volleyball team had to fight hard to defeat International two sets to one in the Jaguar gym Thursday.
The Griffins took the first set 25-23, after which the Jaguars took the second set by the same close score, 25-23.
The lead see-sawed back and forth between the two teams in the third set, with Cooperative finally prevailing 17-15. The unusually large crowd went wild at the end, and the JV and varsity players joined together in an exuberant group hug.
The game was in fact played in front of what may have been the largest crowd for a regular season game in Cooperative history, apparently a result of a pep rally for the Jaguar teams held earlier this week. About 40 often delirious Jaguar fans more or less filled a section of the arena and were probably a big factor in the win. Cooperative normally has very few students or parents attend games.
It may also have helped that Cooperative is on something of a roll this year in sports. So far none of its teams have lost a game, the first time a team has gone through the first two weeks of the season in recent memory.
The undefeated records of the Jaguar boys volleyball and soccer teams is particularly auspicious for the school, whose boys varsity teams have not won a championship since 2006,


No contest: Eagles, Knights both forfeit

No game was played between the Christian Learning and Cambridge junior varsity girls volleyball teams Thursday because neither school was able to field a team.

Varsity Girls Soccer

GRIFFIN ATTACK -- A pair of Griffin midfielders move the ball upfield past Jaguar defenders. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguars subdue fractious Griffins, 3-0

The Cooperative girls varsity soccer team continued its season undefeated, untied, and unscored-upon after posting a 3-0 win over International on the Jaguars' home field Tuesday.
The Rivero family accounted for Cooperative's scoring in the first half. Maria Paz Rivero opened the scoring, and a few minutes later her sister connected with a crossing pass to make the score 2-0 for the Jaguars at halftime.
Midway through the second half Paola Querejazu broke free in front of the Griffin goal and rifled a shot into the left-hand corner of the net to acccount for the Jaguars' third goal. Earlier in the half Giovanna Varalta had come close for the Jaguars, caroming a shot off the crossbar.
The Griffins played a spirited game and often moved the ball into Jaguars' end of the field, but had trouble getting the ball into a position from which they could score.
The Cooperative girls, though missing four of their starters due to academic ineligibility, had more scoring opportunities, and their winning margin would have been larger except for some intrepid goaltending by Griffin Matilde Gamarra.

HITTING THE OPEN SPOT -- Jaguar Maria Jose Rivero (16) watches as the ball she has just kicked goes past Griffin goalie Matilde Gamarra Jonatan Muñoz, International

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Cambridge doesn't show, Eagles win

The Christian Learning girls varsity soccer team was credited with a win Tuesday when Cambridge failed to field a team. It was Cambridge's fourth forfeit of the year.

JV Girls Soccer

ALMOST THERE -- Jaguar Samantha Benet (16) needed just one more step to get past Griffin goalie Katherin Ceballos.
Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguar JV tops Griffins, 2-0

The Cooperative girls junior varsity soccer team defeated International 2-0 Tuesday afternoon on their home field.
Both Jaguar goals were scored by Giovanna Varalta, one in each half. Varalta's second half goal was particularly impressive as she dribbled past several defenders en route to the net. The game was fairly even, with both teams having numerous opportunites to score.

Boys Varsity Volleyball

REJECT! -- Jaguar Diego Morales (7) blocks shot by Griffin Juan Narvaez (5)
Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars defeat Griffins in straight sets

The Cooperative boys varsity volleyball team engineered an impressive win over International in their home gym Tuesday, setting up a showdown next week when Cooperative and Christian Learning will clash in a battle of unbeaten teams.
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VICTORY SHAKE --
Jaguars accept congratulatory handshakes after Tuessday's win. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative


Cooperative, which had defeated International only once in the past two years, dominated the Griffins right from the start, taking the first set 25-17, and then running away with the second by a count of 25-9.
More details to come.

RETURN TO SENDER -- Eagle Paul Estes (8) relays the ball with a back-to-the-net return.
Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

Eagles score 2-0 win against Knights

The Christian Learning varsity boys volleyball team easily defeated Cambridge inj straight sets Tuesday in a game played in the International gym.
The Eagles won the first game 25-10 as they methodically scored two points for each point the Knights scored. Christian Learning enjoyed leads of 8-3, 14-7, and 20-8 en route to a 25-10 win.
The second game, in which Cambridge was basically playing against the Eagles sercond string, was much closer. The Eagles prevailed 25-21, and led by only one point at 20-21 before surging at the close.
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SOCKING IT -- Eagle Jon Mann fires a hard hit ball during the second set. Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning

JV Boys Volleyball

LEAPING JAGUAR -- An as-yet-unidentified Cooperative player casts a shadow as he goes high to return a ball, while cheerleader looks on.
Carlos Paredes, Cooperative


Jaguar JV victorious over Griffins

The Cooperative boys junior varsity volleyball team, playing its first real match of the year, scored a remarkably easy win over a well prepared but undersized International team in the Jaguar gym Tuesday.
The Jaguars took the opening set in convincing fashion 25-12, and then took the second set in an only marginally less decisive manner, 25-18. Cooperative's JV had not played last week because Cambridge failed to show up for their scheduled match. International had dropped a close contest to Christian Learning in the season's opening week.
More details to come.

Knight JV forfeits to Eagles

The Christian Learning boys junior varsity volleyball team was credited with a win by forfeit when the Cambridge team failed to arrive for their scheduled game.

Boys Varsity Soccer

MAKING HIS POINT -- Eagle Josh Mojica (13) prepares to drive the ball into the goal as Griffin Eduardo Zuleta tries to stop it. The goalie is Santiago Maldonado (1).

Jonatan Muñoz, International

Eagles hang on to defeat Griffins 4-3

The Christian Learning boys varsity soccer forged a 4-1 lead over International mid-way through the second half, then survived an attempted Griffin comeback and posted a 4-3 on International´s field Thursday.
Josh Mojica scored twice for the Eagles, while Danny Canaviri and Andre Larsen scored a goal each. The Griffins posted two goals by Diego Nostas and one by Harold Garay. The score at halftime was 2-1 in favor of Christian Learning.

Jaguars pummel hapless Knights 11-1

The Cooperative boys varsity soccer team embarrassed once-proud Cambridge with an 11-1 thrashing on their home field Thursday.
For the Jaguars Jose Manuel Vasquez scored five goals. Juan Carlos Laguna scored twice. Santiago Paz, Juan Alfredo Abuawad, Wilson Salvatierra, and Federico Sauto scored one each.
The game was never in doubt as the Jaguars, moving the ball with ease and facility, scored three times in the first eight minutes, and led 5-0 at the half. The scoring was so fast and furious that the official scorer couldn't keep up with it, and it wasn't until Friday morning that the total number of goals, and the names of the players who scored them, could be straightened out.
Knight star Junior Sanchez was not present because he was playing for the Santa Cruz team in Tarija, and a number of other players apparently decided not to come either. Four of the Cambridge players on the field for the varsity game had previously played the entire junior varsity game.
The first week of the season was a triumph for the Jaguars, who won all the games they played. It was a pathetic start for Cambridge, whose varsity soccer teams were outscored 22-1, and whose varsity volleyball teams didn't win a set. Cambridge's junior varsity volleyball teams and junior varsity girls soccer team didn't show up for their games.

Junior Varsity Boys Soccer

FINDING AN OPENING -- Griffin Javier Garcia (17) prepares to a slip a shot past diving Eagle goalie.

Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffins post a 2-0 victory over Eagle JV

The International junior varsity boys soccer team scored once in each half to garner a 2-0 victory over Christian Learning on their home field Thursday.
Sergio Rosado and Javier Garcia scored the Griffin goals.

Jaguar JV cruises to 4-0 win over Knights

The Cooperative boys junior varsity scored twice in each half while holding a spirited Cambridge scoreless to post a 4-0 win on their home field Thursday.
Leo Landivar, Jose David Sanchez, Josue Abuawad and Fernando Antelo scored for the Jaguars.

Girls Varsity Volleyball

Eagle girls roar back to beat Griffins 2-1

The Christian Learning girls varsity volleyball team dropped the opening set to International, then took the next two to win the match two sets to one.
The Eagles actually led for much of the opening set, but International came on at the end to win it 25-21. The Christian Learning girls got in front in the second set, and won it fairly handily, 25-18.
In the deciding third set the Eagles siezed the momentum and moved out to a 10-1 lead. International tried to rally at that point, but Christian Learning was not going to be stopped. The Eagles won 15-5.

Jaguars survive Cambridge surge, win 2-0

The Cooperative girls varsity volleyball team won a straight sets decision over Cambridge Thursday afternoon in their home gym after overcoming a 10-point Cambridge lead in the second set.
The Jaguars had ripped through a clearly unprepared Knight team in the first set with no problems, 25-12, and until the end of the set it looked as if Cambridge might be held to single digits. It was hard for spectators to believe that these two teams, with almost no change in personnel, had battled evenly all last season.
During the intermission, however, the Lady Knights seemed to remember how to play the game, and took charge in the second set. The Lady Knights got in front and then gradually widened their lead until they led 22-12.
But after a timeout the Jaguars began a sustained rally, started with an outstanding service stint by Sofia Sotelo. The Jaguars whittled Cambridge's margin to 22-20, and then tied the game at 24-24 as the Knights reverted to their first set incompetence -- missing one serve after another and misplaying easy set-ups.
The Jaguars took the next two points to win the set 26-24 and win the match.

JV Girls Volleyball

Griffin JV defeats Eaglettes in three sets

The International girls junior varsity volleyball team won a hard-fought, three-set victory against an Christian Learning team that had only six players in uniform.
Christian Learning took the first set 25-18, after which the Griffins evened the match by dominating the second set, 25-11. International kept that pace going in the third and deciding set, taking it 15-6.
(An earlier posting of the results of this game had the outcome reversed.)

Jaguar JV credited with win by forfeit

The Cooperative junior varsity girls volleyball team achieved an effortless win over Cambridge by forfeit when the Cambridge team failed to show up for the match Thursday afternoon.

Varsity Girls Soccer

COMING THROUGH -- Griffin attacker booms a kick downfield past the outstretched foot of Eagle Kaylyn Lampen. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffins win 1-0 over Eagles

The International girls varsity soccer team defeated Christian Learning 1-0 Tuesday afternoon on the Griffins home field.
Griffin Maria Victoria Gutierrez scored the game's lone goal when she took control of the ballduring a meless in front of the Christian Learning goal during the first half and slipped the ball just inside the post.

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CLOSE ENCOUNTER -- Eagle Jessica Smith and Griffin Natalia Suarez (10) battle at midfield. Ruth Nyquist, Christian

Learning

Jaguars trounce Knights 11-0

The Cooperative girls varsity soccer team had no difficulty defeating Cambridge 11-0 Tuesday afternoon on its home field.
The scoring parade was led by Aldana Roda and Tania Landivar, who had three goals each. Maria Paz Rivero tallied twice, while Maria Jose Rivero, Paola Querejazu, and Giovanna Varalta had a goal each for the Jaguars.

JV Girls Soccer

HERE IT COMES . . . AND THERE IT GOES -- Eagle Emily Ordoñez notches the first of her two goals on a breakaway, putting the ball past Griffin goalie Katherin Ceballos.
Jonatan Muñoz, International School

Late scores give Little Eagles 2-0 triumph

The Christian Learning girls juniors varsity soccer team scored twice in the final minute of play to break open what had been a hard-fought scoreless ties, and garner a 2-0 win over International on the International field Tuesday.
Both goals were scored by sixth grader Emily Ordoñez. She got the first by winning a footrace against two International defenders to catch up with a booming kick by goalie Rebekah Kienzle. Ordoñez took charge of the ball in full stride after its second bounce and eased the ball into the corner of the goal. Only seconds later she got the ball on the left-hand side of the goal and again threaded the ball just inside the goal post.
Scoring opportunities had been few and far between for both teams up until the final minute.

Boys Varsity Volleyball

Eagles post decisive win over Griffins

By Maria Claudia Bernal
International School
The Christian Learning boys varsity volleyball team made themselves the team to beat this year as they won an impressive straight sets victory over their perennial volleyball rival, International, in International's gym Tuesday.
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DUELS AT THE NET -- Eagle Jesse Hallock goes up to spike while Griffin Joaquin Castañeda goes up to block. (top). Eagle Andre Larsen (7) prepares to pummel one against another Griffin (bottom)

Jonatan Muñoz, International School (top), Ruth Nyquist, Christian Learning


The first points were made by the Eagles. The Griffin players made various good serves, but after a while Christian Learning took the lead by practically doubling the Griffins score
at 18-10.
This didn’t stop the Griffins, who fought back, but the loss of the first set had become unfortunately inevitable, and the Eagles won it 25-18.
In the second set Christian Learning got the first points, but the Griffins immediately caught up with them and took the lead.
They seemed to be turning the tables on the Eagles as they were the ones who had twice as many points when they led 12-6.
But the Eagles came back in this very nerve-wracking game and tied the score at 17-17, then went ahead 20-17. Both teams put up a good fight but in the end Christian Learning won 25-21.
Despite missing a week of practice due to the flu vacation, both teams appeared to be in midseason form, and though both sides were missing some of last year's stars, younger players seemed to be filling the gaps. Christian Learning got a big boost from junior Jesse Hallock, who has returned to the school after a year of seasoning in the US.

Jaguars are easy victors over Knights

The Cooperative boys varsity volleyball team cruised by Cambridge in straight sets Tuesday in their home gym.
The Jaguars won the first set easily 25-14, and had only marginally greater difficulty taking the second 25-17.

JV Boys Volleyball

HITTING THEM WHERE THEY AIN'T -- Eagle Jesse Mann blasts shot at gap between Griffins German Ferraris (5) and Julio Ribero (12). Jonatan Muñoz, International

Little Eagles fly high against Griffin JV

The Christian Learning junior varsity boys volleyball team had to fight hard in the first set, but eventually won in straight sets against International in the International gym Tuesday.
As the teams took the floor it was impossible not to notice the height difference between the Griffins and the Eagles, with the Eagles having many more tall players. However, the first set was very even with Griffin Julio Ribero making several good serves. The two teams tied at 24-24, but the Eagles made the next two points making them inners of the opening set 26-24.
The second set started with Christian Learning taking the lead once again. The Griffins showed the knew how to put up a good fight but couldn't catch up in the end, and Christian Learning won the set 25-19.

Knight JV forfeits to Jaguars

The Cooperative junior varsity boys volleyball team posted a victory Tuesday when the Cambridge team failed to show up and forfeited the game.