Boys Varsity Soccer

Eagles Surprise Griffins with 2-0 Win

The Eagles celebrate their first win in over a year.

The Christian Learning Center varsity boys soccer game celebrated their first win in over a year with a 2-0 defeat of the International Griffins. The exciting game was played at the International home field.

For the first half, the Eagles did all they could to defend against the relentless Griffin attacks. Quick and accurate passing helped the Griffins to maintain possession of the ball and take many good shots. However, the Eagle defense, led by Luis Doi, combined with great playing by goalie Wesley Ordoñez, helped to hold the Griffins scoreless in the first half. The Eagles had only a few chances of their own to score, and failed to capitalize on any. 

The game evened out in the second half as the Eagles started to get more comfortable in their passing and shooting. The Griffins continued to take shots, but now the Eagles were also taking a few shots of their own. Still, a sigh of relief washed over the Christian Learning Center fans every time a Griffin shot flew over the goal or was saved by Ordoñez.

 Finally, the Eagles were able to take advantage of their possession, and a ball passed forward over a a Griffin defender was trapped by Eagle Trevor Reed and shot straight at the goal. The Griffin goalie reached out to stop the ball, but it spun out of his hands and into the goal, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

 The Griffins became even more determined to score, and started to pressure the Eagle defense even harder. However, their aggressiveness throughout the game led to at least 3 yellow cards and a red card for the Griffins, and they were left playing with only 10 players.

 The Eagles took advantage of this one-man advantage by bringing the ball down the field with the Griffin defense scrambling to get back in place. Reed got the ball on the right side of the field and passed it across to forward Andre Larsen who tapped it in to the goal to bring the Eagles’ lead to 2-0.

 The Eagles spent the rest of the game focusing on defense, and although the Griffins got many good shots off, they failed to score any goals.

Eagle goalie Wesley Ordoñez dives to block a penalty kick.

As the end of the game neared, confusion during a corner kick led to a penalty kick opportunity for the Griffins. They needed the goal to have any chance of tying the game up. However, Eagle goalie Ordoñez once again displayed his skills with a stunning block. Moments later the final whistle was blown.

 The Eagle players gathered around Ordoñez, ecstatic with their first win after going winless the previous season.


Jaguars impress in win over Knights


By Nicolas Handal
Cooperative School

      The Jaguars boys’ varsity team started the season on an outstanding way, defeating Knights 6-1 on Thursday afternoon in the Jaguars campus. There was a big crowd for the Jaguars and a smaller one for the Knights.  

      Just after the game started Jaguar Josue Abuawad made a goal. With the ball bouncing near the goalie, Abuawad made a strong shot and the goalie couldn’t do anything to stop it.

      Minutes later, Cambridge’s Fabricio Subirana converted a goal with the header from a corner kick to tie the game at 1-1.

       The game remained very tight until Esteban Sauto made a goal from a long distance out, and the  Jaguar defense after that point were almost inviolable. Hyun Kim and Sebastian Vedia didn’t let the Knights get close to the goal.

       After many attempted play executions from the Jaguars the next goal finally came from a free kick made by Juan Carlos Laguna.

      Things were quiet again briefly until another goal was completed by Abuawad when  he smashed the ball into the goal from mid-air. When the first half was about to end, Cambridge almost made a goal from a free kick, but missed and the halftime score was 4-1. .

       In the second half some fantastic passes were made by the Jaguars. Sauto made his second goal,  pushing aside all defense and goalie attempts to stop him, making the score 5-1.

       The Knights seemed to lose faith in themselves, and looked tired. Jaguars took advantage as Manuel Navarro destroyed any Cambridge hopes remaining by making an amazing goal.  

      The game ended up 6-1, which left the Jaguars with smiles on their faces that somehow mixed with a look of determination. The team is hungry to win again this year – or die trying. Defender Hyun Kim said, “If you are first you are first. If you are second, you are nothing.”