Varsity Boys Soccer - October 13

Jaguars Demolish Eagles 7-0
By Jesse Mann, SCCLC

The Cooperative Varsity Jaguars decimated the Eagles Thursday afternoon with a ferocious offensive strategy that overwhelmed the Christian Learning defense. The Jaguars took possession of the ball immediately after the kick off and maintained firm control throughout the match. Cooperative forwards Esteban Sauto, Nicolas Aguirre, Josue Abuawad, Nicolas Cronenbol, Juan Carlos Jaguna, and Milan Marinkovic executed a stunning display of teamwork as they repeatedly advanced up the field with precise passes that bypassed the Eagle defenders. Each of these forwards scored a goal sometime during the match, with the exception of Sauto, who scored two. This determined assault ultimately gave the Jaguars an indomitable lead over the Eagles, although two yellow cards were awarded as a result of their aggressive play. The Eagles fought hard to move the ball past midfield and accomplished nothing beyond a couple stifled corner kicks and a few weak shots on goal. Near the end of the second half a foul deep in the Jaguar end of the field gave the Eagles their first chance to challenge the Cooperative lead. Eagle Sami Frith launched the soccer ball above a wall defenders and nearly deposited it in the upper right hand corner of the net. However, Jaguar goalie Eduardo Ribera hurled himself toward the advancing ball and just managed to tip it over the crossbar, achieving his first save of the game. After a few more minutes of Jaguar dominance, the match ended with a final score of 7-0.

Griffins Overcome Knights 3-0
By Oscar Prudencio, SCIS

     The game started after a slight delay, and both teams reeked of energy and anticipation to take each other on. The Griffins started with their same old strategy (full steam ahead), attempting to score in the first few minutes. The Knights played smart, anticipating this strategy. From the start they formed a barrier, letting no ball anywhere near their goalie. However, speedy Griffin forward Gary Suarez managed to outrun this Knight barrier to score the first goal for the Griffins. This acted as an incentive for the rest of the Griffins to get pumped up and ready to score again, but its also as a reminder for the Knights to stand their ground, and repel the Griffin attacks as well as possible. The strong Knights barrier managed to slow the Griffins down until the end of the first half.

     The second half soon started and the match continued. Here, the Griffins played very aggressively, working like a jackhammer to pound the Knight defense apart. The Knights continued to play safe, but they took advantage of a loose ball and nearly scored a goal. However, Griffin defender Bruno Cesconeto saved the ball when it was inches from the goal. The ball then made its way to the Knight goalie. It rebounded off of him, and Griffin Jose Eduardo Coloma took the chance to score second Griffin goal. Less than a minute later, Griffin Santiago Maldonado scored the third and final goal of the game. The Griffins could have potentially scored many more goals, but a lack of communication and focus lead to their victory being slightly less impressive.

JV Boys Soccer - October 13

Jaguars Rally to Defeat Eagles 4-2
By Jesse Mann, SCCLC

After falling behind the Eagles for the first time this season, the Cooperative Junior Varsity Jaguars rallied to score four goals against the Christian Learning Center. But the hardy JV Eagles stubbornly fought the Jaguars every step of the way, and managed to maintain a steady offensive effort of their own throughout the match. An early penalty kick off a Jaguar hand ball provided Eagle forward Luke Phillips an irresistible scoring opportunity that put the Eagles in the lead 1-0. The Jaguars, however, would not be put down so easily. Less than a minute after the ball rolled into the corner of the Cooperative net, Jaguar Gabriel Romero roared through the Eagle defense and scored with a well placed shot that slid past the goalie. The match then became a relentless dribbling match during the remainder of the first half until Romero scored again at the start of the second, putting  the Jaguars ahead 2-1. Yet the Eagles refused to abandon their quest for victory, and pressed forward hard against the Cooperative defense. 

About ten minutes into the second half the Eagles were rewarded for their efforts when a shot on the Jaguar goal was fumbled by the Cooperative goalie. With the score tied once again, the match erupted into furious battle for possession of the ball as both teams sought desperately to score a winning goal. The Jaguars ended the stalemate when Romero once again launched the ball toward the Eagle net, causing it to bounce off a defender and into the goal. This lead was widened a few minutes later when another Jaguar offensive effort deposited the ball in the Eagle net. Although challenged fiercely by several last minute Eagle attempts on goal, the Jaguars’ two goal lead held firm, resulting in a 4-2 Cooperative victory. 

Griffins Achieve 2-1 Win Over Knights
By Oscar Prudencio, SCIS

     This game started without any problems or delays as both teams shook hands, eager to start. From the very beginning, Griffin forwards played very aggressively to try to score in the first few minutes. The Cambridge defense held strong, not wanting to let this happen so early in the game. The Knight defense managed the Griffins' quick attacks, forming a human wall in a matter of seconds. For a long period of time, nothing big happened between either team. The ball simply flew from one side of the court back to the other. It was clear though that as the game advanced, the Knights made more attempts to score than the Griffins, who simply tried to keep the ball off of their side of the court. It was SCIS forward, Danny Hanley that took the initiative for his team, scoring an outstanding first goal for the match, and giving the Griffins a 1-0 lead. The Knights began to push the Griffins back, and tried to score in order to achieve a tie game. But the Griffins under no circumstances were willing to give Cambridge that opportunity. The first half soon ended, with the Griffins ahead 1-0.

     As the second half started, the Griffins were eager to finish the match or perhaps score again. However, the Knights were just as eager to tie and gain the chance to win themselves. Both teams were under pressure from the crowds who gave a rather strong support (unlike in previous games). The Griffins began to be bombarded by Knight forwards, and soon the Griffin goalie gave in and the Knights were able to score a goal to tie the match. Obviously forward Danny Hanley of the Griffins wasn't happy about this, so he decided to immediately put the pressure back onto the Knight defense. He soon scored a second and final goal for the Griffins a couple of minutes before the end of the match. Both teams showed great skill and power, and Cambridge showed how quickly they can get back up from behind. However, the Griffins showed just how determined they are to get to the final, and hopefully face old time rival SCCS.

Scoreboard for October 13th

Boys JV Soccer:

Cooperative 4, Christian Learning 2

International 2, Cambridge 1

Boys Varsity Soccer

Cooperative 7, Christian Learning 0

International 3, Cambridge 0

Girls JV Volleyball

Cooperative d. Christian Learning 2-1 (26-28, 25-10, 15-12)

International d. Cambridge 2-0 (25-13, 25-14)

Girls Varsity Volleyball

International d. Cambridge  2-0 (25-13, 25-11)

Cooperative d. Christian Learning 2-0 (25-9. 25-5)

Stories to come...

JV Boys Soccer

COLLISION COURSES -- Knights Alejandro Marinaro and Daniel Kirigin
 battle  for the ball with Jaguars Paul Valle and Tommy Yeatts.  -- Julia Boldt  

Note: This game was originally postponed from September 29.


Thrills galore as Knights triumph 2-1

    The Cambridge boys junior varsity soccer team defeated Cooperative 2-1 in a thrill-filled, action-packed game played in front of almost no one on the Jaguar field Wednesday afternoon under gray skies.

     This was the make-up game for the contest postponed last Thursday when the referees failed to show up on time. The win moves Cambridge, at least for the moment, into second place in the League standings behind undefeated International.

  

SWING YOUR PARTNER -- Knight
Daniel Kirigin and Jaguar Tomas
Yeatts do a a Do-si-do -- Julia Boldt

   But the game’s main effect may be to make the rivalry between the Knights and Jaguars, who will presumably meet again in the semi-finals not matter what happens in the last games of the regular season Thursday, even edgier than it already is. The two teams battled to a scoreless tie in their first meeting.

      International will be playing Christian Learning in the other semi-final bracket.

Both the Jaguars and Knights had early chances to score, For Cambridge Mauricio Soto threaded a pass in to Percy Vidal right in front of the Jaguar goal, but a defender arrived in the nick of time to thwart the threat.

      Jaguar right wing Gabriel Romero got off two beautiful crossing passes – but there was no one waiting to receive them.

      Both teams were passing crisply and moving the ball upfield, but goalies Luis Peredo for Cooperative and Sebastian Carrasco for Cambridge were handling all the balls that got through.

     The scoring drought ended when little Jose Carlos Paz swiveled his way in toward the goal, coming along the baseline from the left, and popped the ball between Carrasco and the near post at point blank range to put the Jaguars ahead 1-0.

     The Jaguars nearly scored again moments later, but Carrasco this time tapped the ball upward twice, and then gathered it in.

     Meanwhile the Knights were giving Peredo plenty of business at the other end of the field. They evened the score when Mauricio Soto took charge of a loose ball at midfield, and took off on a long run in which he faked out two defenders before drilling the ball into the left-hand side of the net.

     Both teams continued to threaten as the half wound down. A Jaguar header off a corner kick missed just to the right of the goal. Then, in the aftermath of a free kick by Soto, Cambridge forwards got off three strong shots, but all were fended off.

      The half ended with the score still deadlocked, 1-1.

     Things picked up right where they had left off in the second half. Immediately after the kickoff Paz got off a high velocity shot at the upper edge of the goal that Carrasco had to leap high to corral.

LOOKING UP FOR GUIDANCE? -- Knight Mauricio
Soto hopes to send the ball back upfield. Jaguar
 Enzo Chambruzzi hopes he won't -- Julia Boldt

     This was immediately followed by the Jaguars closest effort to score in the second half as Paz drove in along the baseline to the left of the goal again, pulling goalie Carrasco over to stop him in the process. At that point Paz got off a pass to Tommy Yeatts in front of the now open goal. However, his shot rolled across the open net – and off to the other side.

     Now the momentum seemed to swing to Cambridge as the Knights exploited a genetic advantage it had – their defenders were taller than the Jaguar strikers. The Knights now began to win more than their share of the duels for the high, bounding balls the Jaguars sent upfield.

    Several of the defenders were then able to carry the ball down into Jaguar territory where they passed it to right wing Vidal, giving him a series of scoring opportunities in which the footwork was there, but the timing was a little off. He missed just high, and then just right with whistling kicks from well within his range.

    Cambridge got the go ahead goal when a powerful corner kick by Leonardo Arjes  ended up in a sort of rugby scrum in front of the far goal post. After the ball was kicked around for some time, Horacio Morales put it out of its misery knocking it into the safety of the goal, putting Cambridge ahead 2-1.

    There were more thrills and chills in the final minutes, including a near miss by the Jaguars on a shot that was just outside the left post.

    For Cambridge there were a succession of corner kicks, and Vidal finally put a shot on the goal that looked like a sure score, but goalie Peredo punched it to the side.

    At long last the game-ending whistle blew.    

Scoreboard for October 11th

Girls JV Soccer*

Christian Learning 0, Cooperative 0 (Christian Learning won penalty shootout 4-2)

Girls Varsity Soccer*

Cooperative 10, Christian Learning 0

Boys JV Volleyball

Cooperative d. Christian Learning 2-0 (25-16, 25-10)

International d. Cambridge 2-0 (25-5. 26-24)

Boys Varsity Volleyball

Cooperative d. Christian Learning 2-0 (25-15, 25-14)

International d. Cambridge 2-0 (25-16. 25-23)

*Soccer games at International were postponed due to rain

Stories to come...

Varsity Boys Volleyball - October 11

Jaguars Finish Strong with Win Over Eagles
By Trevor Reed, SCCLC

        The Cooperative Jaguars triumphed over the Christian Learning Center Eagles in their own gym on Tuesday, finishing their season with a convincing win.
        The Jaguars were ready to play from the beginning, building up a 7-1 lead. However, Eagle Jesse Mann landed a sharp spike that seemed to snap the Eagles out of a trance and put them back into the game. The Jaguars managed to score 3 more points, but then a strong Eagle spike was followed by two near-impossible blocks which brought the score to 10-6, the Jaguars still ahead. After a very long volley that showed how smoothly both teams could play, the score was 10-8. The Eagles hoped to gain a lead, but the Jaguars were determined to thwart their attempts. Another incredibly long volley ended with a Jaguar point, but the Eagles continued to follow close behind. Finally, the Jaguars began to score more consistently, and they brought the score to 17-12. At this point, the Eagles seemed to lose focus as the Jaguars continued to play relentlessly. The Jaguars quickly finished the set off with a 25-15 win.
        The Jaguars carried their momentum into the second set as they built up another lead. Yet another impossibly long volley displayed the endurance that both teams had. However, it was the Jaguars who continued to make the best plays, hitting the ball into the few empty spaces on the Eagle side of the net. Jaguar Josue Abuawad was especially effective in spiking and blocking the ball. Similarly, Eagle Cesar Flores had a few unblockable spikes, but the Eagles could not catch up to the Jaguars. Near the end of the set, the Eagles became a bit more sloppy with their playing, and the Jaguars took the opportunity to race past them and win the set 25-14.

Griffins Defeat Knights 2-0
Story to come...

JV Boys Volleyball - October 11

Jaguars Stomp Eagles in Consecutive Sets
By Trevor Reed, SCCLC

        Despite scoring the first point and playing strong at the start of the first set, the JV Eagles were unable to stop the strong Jaguar attacks that lead to their defeat. The score shot out to 4-4 as both teams made a few good plays. Then, the Jaguars took control and brought the score to 8-4 in their favor. But the Eagles weren't ready to give up; they fought back and finally tied the game up again at 12-12. In response, the Jaguars increased their efforts even more, gaining a substantial lead. They won the first set 25-16.
        In the second set, the Jaguars rocketed past the Eagles, quickly doubling their score at 14-7. The Eagles did all they could to fight back, but the Jaguars continued their onslaught until the set ended with a score of 25-10.

International Beats Cambridge in Straight Sets
Story to come...

Varsity Girls Soccer - October 11

Note: The soccer games at International were postponed due to rain.


Jaguars Close Off Perfect Season with 10-0 Win
By Sofia Sotelo, SCCS

The Jaguar girls varsity soccer team defeated the Eagles on their home field Tuesday afternoon 10-0 to complete their fifth consecutive undefeated regular season.

    This may have been their most overpowering seasonal performance ever, one in which they outscored their opponents 40-2. Both goals scored against them were recorded by Christian Learning in a game the Jaguars won 7-2. That was the Jaguars’ closest game of the season. 

     Christian Learning started off the afternoon with great opportunities to score, but the Jaguars still scored the first goal. Jaguar forward Tania Landivar scored after the Eagle goalie had pushed the ball away and given Landivar a second chance. .

     The Jaguars now got warmed up, a process that had taken a while on this cold, wet afternoon, and started making quick and efficient plays. Jaguar defender Carla Limpias passed the ball to the mid-fielder Anna Sophia Rivero, who passed it to Landivar, and finally, on to Paola Querejazu who squeezed in between the Eagle defense and kicked the ball softly into the goal.

 Two minutes later, Landivar outran the Eagle defense and scored. Then she scored two more, giving her four in the first half.

   Giovanna Varalta capped the first half scoring with another goal for the Jaguars, making the halftime score 6-0.

   Jaguars continued to show endurance and determination during second half, and didn’t try new strategies or change positions as they have in previous games. Following what was by now a familiar pattern, Jaguar forward Fernanda Vaca Diez dribbled the ball upfield and passed to Landivar who scored with a “thigh kick,” giving her five goals for the afternoon and putting the Jaguars up 7-0.

      The eighth goal was scored by Vaca Diez with a high kick from far away.

      Christian Learning, which hadn’t had many opportunities since early in the game, then missed a great chance when the ball bounced twice off the goal post.

      But Vaca Diez was now in her shooting mode, scoring two more goals for the Jaguars, giving her three on the afternoon. She scored once when she ran the ball in  by herself from across midfield, and the other when a corner kick by Landivar set her up to take a powerful shot from the middle of the crowd.

JV Girls Soccer - October 11

Note: The soccer games at International were postponed due to rain.


Eagles and Jaguars Slide into Soggy 0-0 Tie
By David Boldt

      The Christian Learning and Cooperative junior varsity soccer teams, both slowed by absences and a rain-drenched field, played to a scoreless tie Tuesday afternoon on the Jaguars field.

      The junior Eagles won the postgame shootout for the extra point in the standings 4-2, making all of their shots while the Jaguars missed one and had one shot blocked by the Eagles 7^th grade goalie, Iza Jardim.

      Jardim was the hero of the game for the Eagles, stopping two point blank shots in the first half. Whether because of fatigue or increasing wetness of the field and the ball, both teams had trouble mounting an attack in the second half, and neither goalie was seriously challenged.

     Christian Learning managed several breakthroughs of the Jaguar defense but were thwarted by either the timely arrival of a defender, or a kick that seemed to slip off the instep at the crucial moment and go astray.

    The Jaguars were occasionally able to keep the ball in the Eagle end for a sustained period, but couldn’t find a scoring combination. 

     The effect of the game on the standings is unclear because the girls soccer games between International and Cambridge were not played Tuesday because of the rain. Had International won, the Griffins would have replaced the Jaguars at the top of the League.

     Christian Learning has firm possession of third place, and will play whichever team ends up in second place when the season is declared over in the semifinals. Winless Cambridge will play the first-place finisher.    

Scoreboard for September 29th

Boys JV Soccer:

International 7, Christian Learning 0

Cooperative v. Cambridge  (Game not played. Referees didn’t arrive. Will be rescheduled probably for next Monday, Oct. 3)

Boys Varsity Soccer:

International 3, Christian Learning 0

Cooperative 4, Cambridge 1

Girls JV Volleyball:

Cooperative d. Cambridge 2-0 (27-25, 25-16)

International d. Christian Learning 2-0 (25-16, 25-23)

Girls Varsity Volleyball:

Cooperative d. Cambridge (25-12. 25-17)

International d. Christian Learning 2-0 (25-4, 25-8)

Stories below.

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.

JV Boys Soccer - September 29

JV Griffins Outrun Eagles 7-0
By Jesse Mann, SCCLC

Griffin Daniel Hanley on the ground, attempting to score a goal.
Photo by Jonatan Muñoz.

            The SCCLC JV boys soccer team was victim of an aggressive Griffin onslaught that deposited the soccer ball into the Eagle's net seven times. The International players made the most of their superior size and speed, managing easily to stop any Eagle offensive efforts. By the end of the first half the Griffins led 4-0, although the Eagles nearly scored on a shot that barely glanced off the Griffin's crossbar. The second half saw three more goals by the Griffins, with only a couple shots on goal by the Eagles. Ultimately the Eagles were simply outrun by the Griffins, though it deserves notice that the Eagle's defense has improved significantly since the beginning of the season and managed to stop many a Griffin goal attempt.

Jaguars vs. Knights Game Postponed to a Later Date

Varsity Girls Volleyball - September 29

Knights Defenseless Against Jaguar Attacks
By Lucia Landivar, SCCS

      The Cooperative girls varsity volleyball team triumphed over the Cambridge College girls 2-0 in a game played on Thursday afternoon in the SCCS coliseum. Even though there were at most three SCCS spectators in the gym, the Jaguars managed to overcome the lack of crowd support, winning consecutive sets 25-11 and 25-17.

     This game was particularly important for the Jaguar volleyball team, since Coach Rolando Cabrera was testing star player Sofia Sotelo’s skills in her first game of the year. She had been sidelined for the first half of the season due to a knee injury. The Jaguars had no problem defeating the Knights in the past, so having Sofia play right after her recovery did not seem like much of a risk.

      She played well during the first set in her accustomed role as setter. Sotelo was impressive from the service line as well. Her serves looked effortless, but came over the net as fast as bullets, often planting the ball straight onto the Knight’s side of the court for aces. . 

     The game started off with Diana Mendez from the Knights serving for her team and scoring the first point of the game for the Knights. Cooperative then struck back, easily scoring four points straight with Maria Velasco’s serves, moving into to a 6-2 lead.

     The Jaguars were smiling and radiating confidence, though the Knights had their moments as well. Knight Cheimi Kayaka managed to smack the ball hard and straight into the ground of Jaguar territory to score, but the rest of the Knights had trouble matching her superb spikes, and instead bumped into each other, missed passes, and failed to respond effectively to Jaguar serves. When the Knights did manage a hard-hit return, it was often too hard-hit. The Knights were constantly hitting the ball out of bounds throughout the first set.

     Mendez’s serves scored a couple of points for her Knights, helping them to gain enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the harder Cambridge struggled, the tenser and more nervous their players became. Meanwhile, the Cooperative girls were enjoying themselves, and seemingly could do no wrong. Velasco from the Jaguars threw herself to the ground to score points, while the Knights slipped on the court while trying to make similar saves. The Knights also had a problem with hitting the net when they tried to put the ball away.

       Luciana Adriazola’s cross-court service ace into an empty space provided the last point of the first set, with the Jaguars winning 25 to 11.

      Jaguar Ana Peredo started off the second set serving for the Jaguars and scoring two points straight off for her team. The Knights were still struggling, but with more success, and managed to tie the score 3 to 3. There were several long rallies in which the ball seemed to survive many Jaguar smacks and strikes as the Cambridge defense became more cohesive.

        Diana Mendez from the Knights tied the score again at 6 to 6 after scoring two straight points on her serves.  But it seemed as though the Knights could not handle the excitement, and they seemed to lose focus again. They lost seven points due mainly to foolish mistakes in passing and lack of communication. Cooperative now a commanding lead 14 to 7, but they continued scoring as if the game was just a casual stroll through the park.

      Newcomer Fabiana Pena from the Jaguars served seven times straight with no worries. The Knights tried to defend their kingdom, but their players had already missed too many serves and passes, and even after a late rally the Jaguars held a 23-17 lead.

      Jaguar Carla Limpias delivered two lightning-like serves to close out the match.  The “lightning bolts” weren’t touched by Cambridge, but rather came down in Knight territory with great power, giving the Jaguars a 25 to 17 win. The Jaguars chanted and clapped their hands to celebrate their win before the two teams shook hands and left the stadium.

Griffins Squash Eagles In Straight Sets

Story to come...

JV Girls Volleyball - September 29

Jaguar JV Breaks Through Against Knights
By David Boldt

     The Cooperative junior varsity girls volleyball team bested Cambridge in a contest that started off in epic fashion in the Jaguar gym Thursday, then ended in something of an anticlimax.

     It will go down in the record books as a straight set victory for the Jaguars, but the opening set was one of the most closely contested at varsity or junior varsity level this year. The Jaguars finally won 27-25, but only after surviving a set point situation when Cambridge led 24-23 and was serving.

    The set was played with a high degree of skill, particularly on defense, and was closely contested right from the start. Cooperative led 8-7 at the first mandatory time out. But after the break the Knights immediately knotted the score at 8-8, and neither held more than a two-point lead for the rest of the game.

    The last tie was at 25-25, and the Jaguars achieved the final two points largely on the basis of two serves ripped in Natalia Medina.

     Winning the first set charged up the Jaguars, and sharply deflated the Knights, who began making unforced errors of a sort that had been almost unknown in the first set, thus allowing the Jaguars to race out to an 18-8 lead.

     The Knights seemed to steady themselves at this point, and actually outscored the Jaguars 8-7 over the remainder of the game, but the attempted comeback was too little, and too late. The Jaguars took the set 25-16 and won the match.

     The Jaguars got outstanding play from team captain Naira Rodriguez who “served well and did a really good job, according to Coach Alvaro Ludueña. Andrea Chavez’ serving was another bright spot for the Jaguars.

     The Knights were bolstered, particularly in the first set, by the all-around play of Paula Vallejo and Carolina Rea.     

Griffins Beat Eagles In Straight Sets
Story to come...