Varsity Boys Soccer - September 29

Griffins Outmaneuver Eagles to Win 3-0
By Jesse Mann, SCCLC

A Griffin shot flies past the Eagle goalie.
Photo by Jonatan Muñoz.

The SCIS Griffins fought the Eagles fiercely on their home field and succeeded in scoring three well-earned goals against the team that left them scoreless three weeks ago. Stubborn possession and powerful shooting precision from both teams resulted in extremely competitive game play that continued until the final whistle. Right from the get-go, the match became a ferocious battle between the Eagles and the Griffins for possession of the ball. The early minutes of the first half saw a lot of action on both ends of the field as players on each team moved the ball rapidly back and forth. As the game continued several corner kicks were granted to the Griffins, one of which resulted in a powerful shot that sailed over the crossbar. A few minutes later the an Eagle corner kick was skillfully snatched out of the air by the Griffin goalie. Several more Griffin goal attempts were stopped by the Eagle defense before a hard shot from a forward found its way between the goalie's legs and into the corner of the Eagle's net. Another Griffin offensive attack near the end of the first half nearly gave them a two point lead. Eagle goalkeeper Wesley Ordoñez heroically dove at the legs of a charging Griffin forward outside the penalty box but failed to hold onto the ball. The ball was then quickly rocketed towards a goalie-less Eagle net, where it was neatly deflected by defender Cesar Flores.

The Griffins quickly renewed their offensive efforts in the second half, managing to keep the action mostly centered around the Eagle's end of the field. Despite the firm Eagle defense, the Griffins were eventually rewarded with two more goals. The Eagles narrowly missed their chance to put some points on the scoreboard late in the second half when a hard shot on an open net was blocked by a downed International defender. When the final whistle blew, the score stood at 3-0, reflecting the determined Griffin offensive efforts against the resolute Eagle defense.

Jaguars Stay Unbeaten with 4-1 Victory over Knights
By Ximena Fagan, SCCS

The Cooperative boys varsity soccer team took on Cambridge in a hard-fought match played on the Jaguars campus Thursday, emerging with a 4-1 victory over the Knights.

       This was a very exciting match with a big crowd cheering on the Jaguars, along with their  cheerleaders. Well into the second half, the score was stuck at 1-0 for the Jaguars.  This may have been partly because Nicolaas Mostert, the Cooperative coach, was starting, and staying with, a number of substitutes to decide who would be selected for the Jaguar team to travel to the Friendship Games in La Paz in early November.

            The first half ended with a 1-0 score. The goal was scored by Reinaldo Chavez on a great kick right into the top center of the goal. This was the highlight of the first half as the ball kept traveling more or less equally up and down the field.

Gabriel Alonso tries to dribble the ball past Jaguar goalie
Camilo Avila.
Photo by Ximena Fagan.

            All of the action seemed to come in the second half. Manuel Navarro scored the second goal for the Jaguars on a header off of a centering pass by Nicolas Aguirre. Aguirre’s kick was first blocked by a Cambridge defender, but the Jaguar left wing tenaciously fought his way and kicked a perfect pass.

          A minute later Aguirre scored himself on an amazing shot from the middle of the field into the corner of the goal to make it 3-0 for the Jaguars.

      Cambridge got its goal when Tadeo Carmona took his best shot and artfully chipped the ball over the SCCS goalie, Camilo Avila.

     Aguirre, who was clearly on fire this game, then scored his second goal of the afternoon, ensuring the Jaguar victory at 4-1.

            On this hot afternoon the Jaguars were proud to celebrate their victory after the final whistle. It was a spirited game with both teams putting in their best effort, but in the end the Jaguars came out as victors.