Varsity Boys Soccer

Jaguars shut down Knights 3-0

The Cooperative boys varsity soccer team prevailed 3-0 against Cambridge on the Jaguars home field Thursday afternoon.
The game promised to test the Jaguars depth since the coaches chose to bench three of the team's best players -- Jose Manuel Vasquez, Federico Sauto and Jean Bretel  for skipping practice. But the Jaguar reserves proved up to the job.
Cooperative was on the offensive early but was missing high and wide until 10th grader Hyun Kim headed home a corner kick to make the score 1-0 for the Jaguars. That goal, however, concluded scoring for the first half, which was played out on a relatively even basis. The Jaguar defense did an excellent job of containing Cambridge's fast-moving forwards Matheo Asturizaga and Tadeo Carmona, who did not get off an uncontested shot  in the entire game.
The Cooperative offense asserted itself more forcefully in the second half as senior Juan Alfredo Abuawad, who had been switched to offense from his usual position on defense, fired a curving shot into the corner of the Cambridge goal.
Later,  Juan Carlos Laguna, another tenth grader, fired in a long, low, hard shot that got below the reach of Cambridge goalie Andres Hurtado, an eighth grader who was one of two Cambridge players who had also played the entire, hard-fought junior varsity game. Cambridge was also missing senior regular Matias Martinez who was on a trip to Argentina to look at universities. 

LETTING 'ER RIP -- Griffin Jorge Suarez (airborne, at left) uncorks the first of his two goals.
 Jonatan Muñoz, International  

Griffins defeat Eagles 3-0


On a cool, overcast evening, the International boys varsity soccer team defeated Christian Learning 3-0 on the Griffins field Thursday. The win kept the Griffins in a tie for the League lead with Cooperative. 
The game started on an even basis with both teams making some nice movements up the field, but with no scoring. The Griffins finally got on the scoreboard when Gary Suarez took control of a long kick from his own goalie just outside the goalie box and finessed into the upper left corner of the goal, up and over Christian Learning goalie Wesley Ordoñez.   
Jorge Harriague almost made it 2-0 for the Griffins with a shot from close range that Ordoñez did field. And Eagle Luis Doi almost made it a tie game with a potent free kick that went just over the crossbar. But "almosts" don't count, and the score stood 1-0 for the Griffins at the half. 
  International began smelling blood in the second half, and was just barely kept at bay by Ordoñez. Griffin Mauricio Nostas fired a short shot that just missed high and to the right. A short while later he got another chance when Eagle defender Andy Nutt fouled him in the penalty area. Nostas calmly netted the resulting penalty shot. 
Eagle Geo Pyung made a nice shot on goal that had the Christian Learning adherents buzzing, but Suarez put the game out of reach near the close with his second goal, which he neatly pushed by Ordoñez from close in. 
The Eagles continued to strive desperately, and Doi barely missed a 30-meter free kick.
   (This account was provided by Keith Wilcke of Christian Learning.)
  

JV Boys Soccer

FORGET SOMETHING? -- Knight seems to have headed upfield before getting the ball, and a Jaguar prepares to exploit the situation. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Not again!? Jags, Knights tie 1-1

The Cooperative and Cambridge junior varsity boys soccer teams once again fought to a 1-1 tie in a game played Thursday on the Cooperative field. It was the same outcome that the two teams had in the opening game of the season and served to jam together  the League standings even more than they already were.
 For a slight variation on the theme, this time it was the Knights who won the postgame shootout 5-4 to gain the extra point in the standings. (Cooperative had won it last time.)
As a result of the tie, and International's win against Christian Learning, Cambridge is now in first place with nine points. International is in second with eight; and Cooperative is in third with seven. However, the most important fact is that any one of these three teams can win the regular season championship by winning both of their remaining two games.
The scoring in the Cambridge Cooperative game occurred in less that a minute shortly after the start of the second half. Gabriel Alonso scored for Cambridge on a short-range blast that the Jaguar goalie juggled, allowing it to bounce once just  inside the goal before he could fall on it.

SECOND CHANCE PAYS OFF -- Griffin Joaquin Blasco (7) had his first penalty shot blocked by the Eagle goalie, but pounded home the rebound. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffins beat Little Eagles 4-0

The International junior varsity boys soccer team scored a pair of goals in each half, and defeated Christian Learning 4-0 on their home field Thursday. One of the Griffin goals was a penalty shot that Eagle goalie Jerome Malloy initially blocked, but deflected the ball back to the shooter who didn't miss his second chance.
 The win kept the Griffins solidly in the hunt for the League regular season championship, but must play its two chief rivals -- Cambridge and Cooperative -- in its remaining two games.

Varsity Girls Volleyball

Jaguar girls barely beat Knights

 The Cooperative girls varsity volleyball team defeated Cambridge Thursday afternoon in their home gym to stay atop the standings and extend their current winning streak to four matches -- but it wasn't easy.
The game went to three sets, and the third set went to 19-17. The final hit of the match captured the essence of the contest. With the score 18-17 for the Jaguars, Cambridge had stopped a hard hit Cooperative smash during an extended exchange and popped it back to an open corner.

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HOOK SHOT -- Jaguar Carla Limpias (11), with her back to the net, prepares to return the ball to  Cambridge. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative



 As the ball arced through the air it appeared that it was going to land exactly on top of the net. If it then slipped off to the Cambridge side it would be Cooperative's point; if it slipped off to the Cooperative side it was Cambridge's. It was like watching a flipping coin in a coin toss. Heads or tails. No one could say.
Then the ball hit, and slid down the Cambridge side, finally giving the point, set, and match to the Jaguars.
 For all the excitement that would eventually be generated, the match started off in desultory fashion with both teams seeming rusty after their week off. The Jaguars won the opening set fairly easily 25-16, with most of the points being decided on unforced errors, including a number of bad serves.
 But Cambridge then proceeded to pull its socks up -- and Cooperative also improved the quality of  its play. The Knights got out to a six-point lead at 18-12, but then Cambridge seemed to catch a case of the yips as Cooperative tied the score at 18-18. The quintessential play in this sequence was on the point that made it 18-17. The ball dropped to the floor in between three Cambridge players, any one of whom could easily have hit it back to the Jaguar side.
But then the Lady Knights got their groove back, and after ties at 19-19 and 20-20 the Knights ran off five straight points to win 25-20 and force a third set.
 Now suddenly both teams were making great gets on balls bouncing off the net, and retrieving errant sets from the far corners of the gym. Each point seemed to get decided only after a long rally. Cambridge got out in front 11-7 on fastball serves by Mariana Escaño, but Cooperative pulled even at 12-12, and the two teams went in lockstep from there -- 14-14, 15-15, 16-16, 17-17. At that point the Jaguars got ahead 18-17, and then the ball that could have gone either way, went their way.

WATCH THE BALL . . . VERY CAREFULLY -- The Griffins strength is getting the ball back -- every time, without fail. Isabel Fernandez (11, above) seems trransfixed by teammate Maria Victoria Gutierrez' (2)  return. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffins overpower Eagles 2-0

By Sung Eun Song
International School
The International girls varsity volleyball team defeated Christian Learning by a great margin in their home gym Thursday. 
Things started out in promising fashion for the Griffins when Beatriz Nallar started off the first set with six points on her powerful serving, and the Eagles never caught up. The Griffins ultimately won the first set 25-6. 
As the second set began Christian Learning began to regain strength. Gaby Tang's outstanding serves and Natalia Egüez´great receiving enabled the Eagles to keep things even until the score was 9-9. But at this point the Griffins took charge as they had in the first set, and gave the Eagles a 25-13 trouncing in the second set to take the match. 

JV Girls Volleyball

Knights improve, but Jaguars prevail

The Cooperative junior varsity girls volleyball team defeated Cambridge Thursday in straight sets in their home gym.
The Jaguars took the first set 25-16. The Little Lady Knights put up much more of a fight in the second set before losing 26-24. Cambridge actually was within a point of winning the second set when it led 24-23 before dropping three straight points at the end.

Griffins narrowly defeat Eagles 


By Sung Eun Song
International School
The undefeated International girls junior varsity volleyball team had its hands full in winning its match against Christian Learning two sest to one in their home gym Thursday.
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REVERSE DEFLECTION -- Griffin Ciara Harriague (10) returns a ball with her back to the net. Jonatan Muñoz, International

At the beginning of the game, the International girls certainly seemed to be cowering before the Christian Learning girls. Perhaps the Griffins couldn’t concentrate on the game because some of the main players were absent. They made mistakes in passing the ball and receiving serves, and fouled up their own serving rotation.  The Chrsitian Learning girls moved out to an early lead. 

 However, the International girls seemed to regain the advantage when when Pamela Suarez started serving. Her servies  were so powerful that nobody could send them back. The Griffins began to catch up with the Eagles fast, and finally won the first set 26-24, a narrow margin after a close game. 

As the second set began, the Christian Learning girls started to lead the game again. Eagle Rebecca Enns did an outstanding job receiving service, which seemed to cancel out International's advantage in that department, and was a key factor contributing to the Eagles’ winning in the second set 25-20. However, Lady Luck was on the Griffins’ side in the third set, in which they also seemed to get back in the groove from the service line. Ciara Harriague delivered a series of particularly effective serves, and the Griffins took the deciding set 15-5. 

 (Keith Wilcke of Christian Learning also contributed to this account.)

Tuesday´s Games Postponed

Smoke clouds schedule

The heavy clouds of smog hanging over the city forced the postponement of Tuesday´s planned resumption of the 2010 soccer and volleyball seasons. The games scheduled for Tuesday in girls soccer and boys volleyball have been reslated for next Monday, October 4. It is hoped that the smoke will clear by Thursday so that the boys soccer and girls volleyball games scheduled for that day can be played. As of this writing, Accuweather was predicting showers and light winds (as well as sharply lower temperatures) for Tuesday night and Wednesday that could help to clear the air. A shower was also possible Thursday, the weather service said.

Mid-Season Wrap-up

October showdowns loom

For Griffins and Jaguars  

As the second half of the season opens, attention focuses on the week of October 3-9 when games will take place between Cooperative and International that could settle the regular season titles in boys and girls soccer, as well as girls volleyball.

Here’s the way the second half of the season shapes up in  varsity competition in both sports:

 BOYS SOCCER – The Jaguars and Griffins were tied at mid-season with seven points apiece – just as they were in the match they played to a scoreless tie against each other. Both teams played superbly, and both had chances to score. It’s unlikely they’ll play another contest without goals.  

Cambridge has shown it can be a spoiler, with several new players who have shown a knack for explosive scoring. Christian Learning is an acknowledged “rebuilding year” but the reconstruction may be completed in the second half. The Eagles have played close games against both Cambridge and International.

 GIRLS SOCCER – International showed that its early and intensive training, including practices before school started, paid off when it nearly upset the Jaguars, the defending champions and  overwhelming pre-season favorites. The Griffins led most of the game, and finally lost 2-1 only after allowing an own goal near the end of the game.

 Cambridge and Christian Learning will both have to increase their scoring potential to have a chance to play a role in the contest for the League regular season championship, but both have been improving.

 BOYS VOLLEYBALL – Cooperative got through the first half of the season undefeated with a 3-0 record, but were not unscathed. The Jaguars dropped a set to a fast-improving Christian Learning team, and had a close set against International, which finished the first half in second place.  Cambridge showed dangerous potential in taking a set against International.

 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL – Cooperative and International resumed this season where they left off the previous season, in which they had battled evenly all the way to the final set of the playoffs, which were ultimately won by International. Cooperative took the first match of the season in three sets, but handicappers should keep in mind that they did that last year too.

 Cambridge has shown it can play the league leaders on even terms for long stretches, and took a set against Cooperative, but hasn’t been able to show a high enough level of consistency. Christian Learning has played even more unevenly, but when the Eagles have been good, they´ve been very good.

 In the junior varsity races, both boys soccer and girls soccer are close, with three teams still in the race for the regular season title. International has dominated the junior varsity competition in both girls and boys volleyball. 

Varsity Boys Soccer

Knights, Griffins in 2-2 standoff

 The Cambridge and International boys varsity soccer teams fought to a 2-2 draw on the Griffins field Thursday in an epic contest worthy of the storied rivalry between the two teams, who always seem to bring out the best in each other.
The tie puts International in a complicated tie with Cooperative atop the League at the half season mark. Cambridge moves into third place with an even record -- one win, one loss, and one tie.The teams now get a week off for the Santa Cruz Day break and resume play the following week. (See schedule at right.) 
 The Griffins broke on top with a powerful free kick by Fernando Muñoz that zooomed into the upper right-hand corner of the goal from about 30 meters out on the left-hand side of the field. International held that 1-0 advantage at halftime.
 The Knights retaliated with dazzling suddenness in the first minute of the second half when Kahlil Daher executed a perfact pass to Matheo Asturizaga who smacked the ball into the goal.
 The Griffins retook the lead when Jorge Harriague, fastest player in the League, took advantage of a miscue by a Cambridge defender to break away and blast the ball into the goal at close range.
 Knight Tadeo Carmona knotted the score at 2-all when he got clear just inside the penalty ares and zinged a long low shot into the goal.
 That concluded the scoring for the day, though there were some spectacular near misses by International on corner kicks and several near breakaways by the Cambridge forwards in teh closing minutes.
 International won the shootout for the extra point in the standing 4-1 thanks to two intrepid saves by Griffin goalie Jose Sebastian Velasco, and one over-adrenalined shot by Cambridge that hit a window on the second floor of a classroom building some distance beyond the field. It was only the second time in memory a shot has hit the building that high.
 An irony to the shootout was that Cambridge goalie Andres Hurtado partially blocked three Griffin shots, but all three continued on into the goal. International, which was once famed for bad luck in shootouts, has now made all nine of its opportunities in shootouts this season.

INCOMING! -- Another Jaguar long shot comes rocketing in toward Eagle goalie Wesley Ordoñez (1)

Carlos Paredes, Cooperartive

First half explosion lifts Jags

Paced by five goals from Jose Manuel Vasquez, the Cooperative boys varsity soccer team whomped Christian Learning 7-1 in a game played on the Jaguars field Thursday.
The win moved Cooperative in to tie for first place with International in the standings at the end of the first half of the season..
The Jaguars scored six times in the first half, and added a single goal in the second. In addition to Vasquez' goals, Cooperative got a goal each from Santiago Paz, a ninth grader, and Federico Sauto.
Andre Larsen scored Christian Learning's goal in the first half, which ended 6-1 in favor of the Jaguars.
The Eagles could take comfort in the fact that Larsen's goal was the first scored on Cooperative this season. the Jaguars had previously notched a 5-0 victory over Cambridge and played a scoreless tie with International.
 The scoreless tie last week that apparently caused the Jaguar offense to wake up and smell the coffee. Playing very smoothly the Jaguars poured through an Eagle defense that was clearly in disarray during the opening 20 minutes of play, firing early and often on the Eagle goal, and hitting on several long shots. The Eagles seemed to steady after Larsen's goal, but the cause was lost. The Jaguars gave their second string plenty of playing time in the second half.  .

JV Boys Soccer

Junior Knights beat Griffins

The Cambridge junior varsity boys soccer team scored a 2-0 shutout victory over International on the International field Thursday.
The win puts the Knights one point ahead of Cooperative and two points ahead of International in the standings at the season's halfway point. The three-teams are virtually in a three-way tie, with all three having a chance to win the regular season title.
The first half of Thursday's game nded in a 0-0 tie, but Cambridge scored twice in the second half. The first goal was by Yerko Fernandez, the second by Juan Carlos Paniagua.

NOT FOOLED -- Jaguar Lorenzo Monasterios (10) unloads a shot. A few (seven) Eagles are waiting for it. It did noit go in. Juan Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

Jaguar JV wins against Eagles  

The Cooperative junior varsity boys soccer team triumphed three to nothing over Christian Learning in a game played on the Jaguars field Thuirsday.
The Jaguars gained a 2-0 halftime advantage on the strength of goals by Richard Salvatierra and Stefano DeRosmine. Erwin Reyes scored one more the Jaguars in the second half, which was generally played on even terms.

Varsity Girls Volleyball

Jaguar girls win comfortably 

The Cooperative girls varsity volleyball team stretched its record to 3-0 with a straight sets victory over Christian Learning in their home gym Thursday.
The Jaguars won the first set 25-19 and the second 25-16.
The Jaguars are in first  place  at the end of the first half of the season, a game behind International.  The teams will resume play after the Santa Cruz Day break.

Griffins triumph over Knights 

The International girls varsity volleyball team defeated Cambridge by decisive margins in a game played at the International gym Thursday.
The Griffins took the first set 25-12, and the second 25-15. Most of the points were decided only after long, often high-velocity rallies in which both teams played well. However, the Griffins seemed capable of returning any ball the Cambridge girls sent their way.
The Griffins are in second place at the halfway mark of the regular season with a 2-1 record.

JV Girls Volleyball

POPPING IT UP -- Jaguars set up a return during Thursday's game.

 Juan Carlos Paredes, Cooperative 

Jaguarettes victorious over Eagles

The Cooperative junior varsity girls volleyball team chalked up a straight sets victory over Christian Learning in a match played in the Jaguar gym Thursday.
The Jaguars won the first set 25-19, and the second 25-15.
The Jaguars are in second place with a 2-1 record at the halfway mark in the season.

Griffins easily outpace Knight JV 

The International girls junior varsity volleyball team had little trouble defeating Cambridge Thursday in its home gym
The Griffins won the first set 25-12, and then took the second 25-15.
International is in first place at the halfway mark in the season with a 3-0 record.

Girls Varsity Soccer

SAD AND HAPPY -- Griffin Carolina Baldivieso (right) is clearly thrilled that her shot has gon into the net. Cambridge goalie Renata Pinto (16) and defender Alejandra Suarez (35) clearly feel differently.

 Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffins prevail over Knights 

The International girls varsity soccer team scored a 3-0 win over Cambridge on  their home field Tuesday afternoon.
International went ahead in the first half on a goal by Carolina Baldivieso, but the game remained a 1-0 affair until more than halfway though the second half when Natalia Davila uncorked a long shot from the the right side of the goal  that hit home on the far side of the goal.
Flavia Nostas made it 3-0 with less than a minute to go in the game when she unleashed a long, high floater that stayed a little too high for the Cambridge goalie to reach.
The game was a competitive affair in which both sides had their scoring opportunities, though the action toward the end was clearly dominated by International.

Female Jaguars win against Eagles

By Trevor Reed
Christian Learning 
The Cooperative girls varsity soccer team extended their winning streak with a 4-0 victory over the Christian Learning Center on the Jaguars' home field Tuesday.
Victories by both teams the previous week had built up the excitement for this match, and the two teams were well matched during the first half in which the only scoring was a goal by Jaguar Sofia Sotelo.  The Eagles had a few good scoring opportunities as well, including a shot by Abby Phillips that curved out of the goal at the last second. Eagle Aubrey Olson delivered excellent corner kicks as well, but the Eagles couldn't get the ball past the Jaguar goalie Karla Aguilera.
The Jaguars had a lucky break in the second half when a corner kick bounced off of an Eagle defender for a second Jaguar goal. Still, the Eagles refused to give up and continued to attack the Jaguar defense, but fine saves by Aguilera prevented the Eagles from making a comeback.
 The Jaguars scored twice more in the second half, once by Sotelo, her secon d of the day, on a loose ball that was bouncing around in the penalty box, and later on a well-aimed shot kicked over the Eagle goalie's head by Aldana Roda. 
 (This story has been updated with new information . -- 9/17/10) .

JV Girls Soccer

Eaglettes, Little Jags tie 1-1 

The Christian Learning and Cooperative junior varsity girls soccer teams fought their way to a 1-1 tie in a game played on the Jaguars field Tuesday afternoon.
The Jaguars prevailed 2-1 in the post game penalty shoot out to determine which teams gets an extra point in the standing. The two teams were tied at 1-1 after five players had gone, with each team's goalie blocking four shots. The matter was decided when Cooperative's sixth shooter scored after Christian Learning's sixth shot was also blocked.
Eva Brown scored the Christian Learning goal during the game itself, giving the little Eagles the lead for most of the game. Michelle Lederman tied the game for the Jaguars with her second half goal.

FIRST OF TWO -- Griffin Vitoria dos Santos scores the first of her two goals after getting half a step ahead of Knight defender Nicole Fermin Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffin JV scores 3-0 victory 

The International girls junior varsity soccer team defeated  Cambridge 3-0 in a game played on their home field Tuesday afternoon.
The Griffins went ahead on two first half goals by Vitoria Dos Santos. Antonia Maggi added the third score in the second half.

Boys Varsity Volleyball

Jaguars subdue ornery Eagles, 2-1

By Trevor Reed
Christian Learning
The Cooperative varsity boys volleyball team narrowly defeated the Christian Learning Center in an exciting match on the Jaguars' home court Tuesday.
 The Jaguars started things off well in the first set with a quick 6-1 lead. Their excellent setting set them up for numerous spikes that the Eagles had a hard time returning. They stretched their lead to 15-5 and eventually won the set 25-12.
The Eagles came out with a winning mindset in the second set. They blasted off to a 12-4 lead, much to the bewilderment of the Jaguar players who were expecting an easy win. The second set was an excellent display of volleyball technique with long volleys between each point, quick thinking by both teams, and excellent teamwork. 
Although the Eagles seemed to have the advantage, the Jaguars refused to give up. The Jaguars started their comeback when the score was 19-12 in the Eagles' favor. Soon the Jaguars whittled the score down to 19-18, eventually tying it up at 21-21, and then pulling ahead 24-21, just one point away from winning the set and the game. 
However, the Eagles were preparing for a comeback of their own. The pressure was on for Eagle Jesse Mann as he served the ball knowing that any mistake could cost his team the game. Each point was a struggle, but the Eagles fought back, tying the score at 24-24. Both teams continued to fight for each point, but the Eagles held onto the momentum and converted it to a 27-25 win, forcing the game into a third set.
The two teams both seemed to scent victory in the third set. The score was soo0n tied at 7-7. The Jaguars then started to gain some ground as they pulled ahead 10-7. They held onto their small advantage for the rest of the set, finally winning the set 15-10 and securing the victory.




UNCORKING ONE -- Griffin Hans Hartman (1) gets off a serve in the first set.
Jonatan Muñoz, International












Griffins fend off Knight rally, 2-1

The International boys varsity volleyball won a three-set match over Cambridge in their home gym Tuesday afternoon.
The Griffins won the opening set 25-20, but Cambridge rallied to take the second set 25-23. With both teams showing signs of fatigue and making many unforced errors, International outlasted Cambridge in the third set 15-9.

JV Boys Volleyball

GETTING IT BACK -- Griffin Juan Sebastian Velasco returns hard-hit ball

 Jonatan Muñoz, International

Griffin JV wins in straights sets 

The International boys junior varsity volleyball teams defeated Cambridge Tuesday afternoon in their home gyms.
The Griffins won the first set 25-18 and the second 25-17.

Jr. Jaguars polish off Eagles 2-0

The Cooperative boys junior varsity easily defeated Christian Learning Tuesday afternoon in its home gym.
The Jaguars won the first set 25-4, and had only slightly more difficulty taking the second set 25-7. Christian Learning had only six players, and no substitutes.

Varsity Boys Soccer

Knights edge Eagles 4-3 

The Cambridge boys varsity soccer team defeated Christian Learning 4-3 in a high-scoring, thrill-packed game played on the International field Thursday afternoon.
Cambridge took the lead 1-0 early in the first half on a sudden breakaway goal scored by MateoAsturizaga. The goal was something of shocker in that it came right after a period of play in which Christian Learning put heavy pressure on the Cambridge defense.
The Knights then went ahead 2-0 on a clever play in which a free kick was aimed away from the goal, and was essentially a pass to Matias Martinez who rifled a long shot that seemed to be still rising as it hit the net.
The Eagles then retaliated with a goal by Conroy Janzen who kicked home a corner kick. Luis Doi then knotted the score with a precisely calibrated free kick that bounced down into the goal off the crossbar.
Caleb Ropp then put the Eagles in the lead 3-2 as he knocked in a header off a corner kick.
Cambridge got the score even again seconds before the half when Marlon Castillo was fouled in the penalty area and knocked home his penalty shot opportunity. (He actually did it twice when his first kick was called back because a Cambridge player had moved upfield too soon.)
The scoring tempo slowed in the second half, though both sides had their chances. Eagle Richard Enns banged a shot off the crossbar and Knight Tadeo Carmona fired a penalty shot high.
The game-winner was scored for Cambridge by Asturizaga in a breakaway play that was virtually a duplicate of the first goal of the game.


FLYING GRIFFIN, CROUCHING JAGUAR  -- The Jaguars and Griffins went through all the motions -- but nobody put the ball in the net. Jonatan Muñoz, International

Jaguars, Griffins in scoreless draw

The Cooperative and International boys varsity soccer teams fought a pitched battle on the Jaguars field in which defenses prevailed, leaving the score 0-0 at the end of the game.

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WINNING THE SHOOTOUT -- Griffin Daniel Roempler (16) puts a hot just beyond the Jaguar goalie's reach for his team's fifth, and winning, penalty shot in the shootout. Jonatan Muñoz, International


__________



International prevailed 5-4 in the post-game penalty shootout to determine which team collected an extra point in the standings. Winning the shootout was unusually gratifying for the Griffins who had lost several shootouts after ties over the last two seasons.
    .

JV Boys Soccer

Knight JV downs Eagles 2-0

The Cambridge junior varsity boys soccer team defeated Christian Learning 2-0 Thursday afternoon in a game played on the International field.
Cambridge led 1-0 at the half on a goal by Mauricio Soto, and added another goal in the second half, this one by Daniel Kirigin.

A PAIR OF VITAL SAVES -- Jaguar goalie (top) deflects a Griffin shot over the goal. Griffin goalie Jose Luis Sciaroni hung on to this shot by No. 13. Jonatan Muñoz, International 

Jaguar, Griffin JVs deadlock 1-1

The Cooperative and International junior varsity boys soccer teams played to a 1-1 tie in a contest that took place on the Jaguars field Thursday afternoon.
International won the post game penalty shoot out for the bonus point in the standings 6-5
Alexander Medina scored the Jaguar goal, and Samir Nostas tallied for the Griffins during the game itself.

Girls Varsity Volleyball

Lady Knights overcome Eagles 2-0

The Cambridge girls varsity volleyball team won a straight sets victory over Christian learning Thursday afternoon in a game played in the International gym.
The Knights dominated play in the opening set, basically scoring two points for every point the Eagles could win, and won 25-14.
Cambridge appeared to be heading for an easy romp in the second set as they jumped out to a quick eight-point lead and seemed to have the game well under control at 20-11.
 However, the Eagles seemed to steady at that point and pulled the score almost even at 22-20. Then the Knights who had continued to play  well during the Eagle counterattack, put on a surge to take the set, and the match, 25-21.


AIR WAR -- Griffin Stephany Giotto and Jaguar Carla Limpias tangle above the net. Jonatan Muñoz, International


Female Jaguars win three-set brawl

The Cooperative girls varsity volleyball team won a typically hard-fought match against International Thursday in their home gym.
The Jaguars took the opening set 25-21: The Griffins struck back to take the second set 25-20. The two teams dueled evenly in the third set, with Cooperative prevailing 15-12.
The two teams were basically resuming their competition of a year ago, when Cooperative finished first during the regular season, but International won the championship tournament.

JV Girls Volleyball

Eagle JV defeats Knights, 2-1

The Christian learning junior varsity girls volleyball team rallied to defeat Cambridge in the International gym Thursday afternoon.
The Little Knights took the first set 25-22. The second set was a similarly close battle in which the score was tied at 17-17. The Eagles then pulled ahead and won the set 25-20.
The deciding third set was tied at 5-5, but at that point the Knights seemed to run out of steam and the Eagles surged ahead to win 15-8.

Griffins beat Jaguars decisively     

The International girls junior varsity girls volleyball team captured a straight sets victory over Cooperative Tuesday afternoion in the Jaguars gym.
The Griffins took the first set 25-17, and the second 25-20.

Varsity Girls Soccer

JOY AND AGONY -- Griffin Laura Maragaño (above and right) puts her team up 1-0 late in the first half. Griffin defenders below react in unison after one of them accidentally deflects Jaguars' winning goal into the net. Jonatan Muñoz, International



Shocker: Griffins almost beat Jaguars

With ten minutes to go in the game the International girls varsity soccer team lead Cooperative and seemed to be on the verge of beating the Lady Jaguars for the first time since . . . well, nobody could remember the last time the Jaguars have lost.
However, it was not to be. The Jaguars got two scores in the last ten minutes -- one of them an "own goal" on a miscue by a Griffin player -- and won the game 2-1 to keep alive their seemingly eternal winning streak. (They have won the championship every year since the SCISL began in 2005.) The game was played Tuesday on Cooperative's field.
The Jaguars, who started their season with a 9-0 pounding of Cambridge and reportedly were concentrating mainly on how they would celebrate another championship season, were shocked -- absolutely shocked -- when nearly at the end of an until then scoreless first half Griffin Laura Maragaño took a nifty pass that put her in position to knock the ball in from about 15 meters out -- and didn't miss.
The continuing attack by the clearly unintimidated and well-drilled Griffins left the Jaguars clearly discombobulated and confused, and they played badly during the opening phases of the second half, while the Griffins continued to threaten.
Finally the Jaguars seemed to pull their attack together, but now it seemed as if the soccer gods had turned against them. One centering pass got past Griffin goalie Stephanie Giotto and dribbled across the mouth of the goal -- but there was no one available to tap it in.
On another occasion star left-winger Fernanda Vaca Diez whistled in a shot that went through Giotto's upraised hands and hit the far post -- only to bounce out of the goal rather than in.
But ultimately the Jaguars were not be denied. Vaca Diez and her usual partner in crime, Tania Landivar, broke loose and scored a classic goal with Vaca Diez crossing to Landivar, who was standing undefended on the far side of the goal. Landivar headed the ball in.
Fate now switched sides again and seemingly handed victory to the Jaguars a few moments later when Landivar was fouled in the penalty area and awarded a penalty shot, but Giotto bravely blocked it, keeping very much alive the possibility that the Jaguars would be tied, something that hasn't happened since 2008.
However, in the closing minutes of the game the Jaguars were able to have victory from the jaws of equality. Jaguar Aldana Roda unleashed a vicious corner kick that Griffin defender Carolina Badivieso deflected the wrong way, sending the ball into her own goal and putting the Jaguars in the lead 2-1.
But the Griffins continued to attack.  Two excellent plays by Jaguar goalie Karla Aguilera prevented the Griffins from knotting the score again. On one of them, in the final minute or so, Aguilera got to the ball nanoseconds ahead of two charging Griffin forwards, and kicked it clear.
Still, it may be a more interesting season than anyone expected.

Last-minute goal gives Eagles win

SQUEEZED OUT -- Cambridge forwarward Maria Fornaguera tries to get by two Eagle defenders. 

Katarina Holland, Christian Learning 

By Trevor Reed

Christian Learning

 The Christian Learning Center Eagles took on the Cambridge Knights on the International field Tuesday in a game that started out slowly, but ended dramatically in a 2-1 Eagle victory.

The first half was full of scoring attempts, but neither team was able to put the ball into the net. Both teams had numerous attempts on corner kicks, and Eagles Mariela Salinas and Abby Phillips both had breakaways, but were unable to score. 
     Things got more interesting in the second half. The Eagles starting the scoring with a kick from Abby Phillips that was deflected by Kelsey Friesen into the goal. As the end of the game approached, the Knights pushed harder to score a goal. Finally, Reina Ushida was able to volley the ball past the Eagle goalie into the net to tie the game up at 1-1 with less than a minute to go. 
     The game looked like it would end in a tie, but the Eagles got one last chance to win it, and they used it. As soon as play started, the Eagles kicked the ball directly for the Cambridge goal. The goalie grabbed the ball, but it slipped from her hands. Meanwhile, Eagles Abby Phillips and Jessica Smith sprinted down the field and past the Knight defense where Phillips kicked the ball in for the winning goal.    

JV Girls Soccer

TRYING TO GET BY -- Jaguar Michelle Lederman (11) tries to thread through a pair of Griffin defenders. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative


Griffin JV girls beat Jaguars 2-1

The International junior varsity girls soccer team beat Cooperative in a particularly well played match Tuesday afternoon on the Jaguars field.
The two teams both had lopsided wins in their opening games a week ago and were clearly primed for the confrontation Tuesday. The Griffins took the elad on a goal by Renata Maggi, and led 1-0 at the half.
Jaguar Michelle Lederman tied the game up in the second half, but the Griffins won when Pamela Suarez added their second goal of the afternoon.

Eagles beat short-handed Knights 
By Trevor Reed
Christian Learning 
  The Christian Learning junior varsity soccer team ultimately cruised to a 2-0 victory on Tuesday on the International field against a Cambridge team with only eight players.
 Although they had fewer players, the Knights held the Eagles scoreless for the entire first half. Emily Mercado finally scored the first goal of the game midway through the second half off of a free kick from just outside the penalty box to put the Eagles up 1-0. Eagle Samia Dajbura scored the second goal late in the game to bring the final score to 2-0.

Boys Varsity Volleyball

PERFECT TIMING -- Griffin Juan Narvaez (5) blocks Mateus De Carvalho's (10) attempted spike  
Jaguars down pesky Griffins

The Cooperative boys varsity volleyball team won its second straight match, but had to suppress to attempted uprising by International in the second set Tuesday afternoon in the Jaguars home gym.

The Jaguars steamed through the first set in good order, jumping out to a 16-8 lead, and eventually winning 25-15.
But it was the Griffins getting out in front in the second set, taking a 10-6 lead. However, the Jaguars fought back, tied the set at 13-13, and then inched ahead. With the score 24-20 the Griffins made their final surge, bringing the score to 24-22 before finally succumbing 25-22.
___________

GETTING DOWN -- Jaguar Juan Alfredo Abuawad (2) sets one up. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative

__________

The Jaguars are not quite the "clean machine" they were last year when they totally dominated the League. This year they clearly miss the intrepid setting of Wilson Salvatierra, who graduated. Several ninth graders are trying to fill that vacancy, but with only erratic success. Still Juan Alfredo Abuawad and Mateus Carvalho are able to come up with enough line drive hits to gain victories.
The Griffins fired some spikes of their own, but were clearly trying to beat the Jaguars with hard serves and finesse plays. They had trouble with consistency, however, often sending the ball out of bounds.


Eagles win easily against Knights 

By Trevor Reed

Christian Learning

    The boys varsity volleyball team from Christian Learning Center defeated the Cambridge Knights in a well fought game that took place in the International gymnasium.

 After starting the first set off with a 10-2 lead, the Eagles stretched their lead out to 15-5. The Eagle dominance was a team effort led by Caleb Ropp who delivered spikes continuously throughout the set. The Knights improved near the end of the first set as the two teams scored 10 points each. The set ended 25-15 in favor of the Eagles. 
     The Knights came back even more determined in the second set, starting with an 8-6 lead over the Eagles. Not to be outdone, the Eagles went on a 6-0 scoring streak, pulling themselves into a 12-8 lead. The Knights had lost their momentum, and they could not get back into the game. Thanks to the Eagles good serving, which was a problem for them in their previous game, the Eagles won the second set 25-12.  

JV Boys Volleyball

IS THIS THE WATUSI? -- Jaguar Richard Salvatierra (10) returns a ball against Griffins. Carlos Paredes, Cooperative 
Griffin boys JV defeats Jaguars

The International junior varsity boys volleyball team defeated Cooperative in straight sets Tuesday afternoon in the Jaguars' gym, but were tested in the second set.
The little Griffins won the opening set 25-15, but the seond was a squaker, with International finally winning 25-23.


Knight JV conquers Eagles, 2-0


By Trevor Reed
Christian Learning  
    The Cambridge Knights JV volleyball team defeated the Christian Learning Center Eagles in a close match played in the International gym.
 The Knights gained an 8-0 lead in the first set, but the Eagles fought back to make it 8-7.. The momentum switched back and forth between the two teams before the Knights pulled ahead to win the first set 25-15.
     In the second set, both teams came back in determined fashion. After tying the game up at 9-9, the Knights slowly inched ahead of the Eagles before stretching their lead to 25-19 to win the second set and the game.

Boys Varsity Soccer

Jaguars down Knights, 5-0

The Cooperative varsity boys soccer team opened its season with a convincing 5-0 victory over Cambridge on their home field Thursday.
The Red Knights put up a creditable fight, holding Cooperative scoreless for much of the first half, which ended with Cooperative ahead by only 1-0 on a goal by ninth.grader Jorge Zankis.
Most of the first half action was in the Cambridge end, however, and in the second half the Jaguars broke through for four more tallies, two by Santiago Paz, and one each by Jean Andre Bretel and Federico Sauto.
The same two teams clashed in last year's championship game, which Cambridge won, but it seemed clear Thursday that Cambridge had lost more through graduation and departures than Cooperative, which has back most of the key players from last year's team.


OVER EXTENSION -- Eagle Andre Larsen (15) was called for fouling Griffin Andres Estennsoro (9) in the penalty area, leading to Griffins first goal. Jonatan Muñoz, International


Griffins post 3-0 win over Eagles

The International boys varsity soccer team defeated Christian Learning 3-0 in a hard-fought game on the International field Thursday.
Andres Estennsoro opened the scoring for the Griffin when he connected on a penalty shot in thefirst half, and added a second goal before the half to put International ahead 2-0. Maykol Villavicencio added the third goal when he connected after a neat series of completed short passes gave him the ball on the left side of the net with the Eagle goalie pulled out of position.
Other than the scoring forays play was fairly even with both sides able to move the ball into the opponents' end.