Soccer Enters League Competition
Boys
The boys team had mixed results in their pre-season. With league underway, the team now possesses an overall record of 5-8-1.
The team faced Laguna Hills at home on Friday, Jan. 17, and they won with a score of 1-0. Junior Jonas Thyssen scored his first goal of the regular season.
On Wednesday, Jan. 15, the team won against Trabuco Hills with a score of 2-1. Allen had a successful game, scoring both of the team’s goals.
Senior Colton Fox gave his thoughts on the first win of the regular season: “It felt really great to grab our first win of the season, especially beating an undefeated team. These wins act as a huge confidence boost for the team and help push us in the right direction for a successful season.”
Junior Bryce Allen spoke about how the team has improved since the start of the season: “We are a pretty young team. Now, we are starting to come along together and starting to score again.”
The team traveled to Aliso Niguel on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Despite captain Michael Bogdonovich exiting the game with an injury and the team conceding two goals early in the match, the team overcame adversity and tied Aliso Niguel 2-2.
Junior Ryan Swartzentruber took a shot from outside the box, and it hit off an opponent’s hand in the penalty box. Dana was awarded a penalty kick in which junior Caleo Martinez scored the team’s first goal of the match. Then, the Wolverines conceded an own goal, tying the match at two apiece.
On Monday, Jan. 6, the team hosted Tesoro for its first league game of the season. The team lost by a score of 0-3.
Girls
Halfway through the regular season, the girls team possess an overall record of 1-3-5.
The team played San Juan for a second time on Thursday, Jan. 23, tying with a score of 1-1.
On Thursday, Jan. 16, the team traveled to Aliso Niguel and faced the Wolverines. The girls lost by a score of 0-3. Roche gave her thoughts on the opponent and stated what the team can do to improve moving forward: “Aliso is a tough opponent because their strategy is messy and hard to defend. Moving forward, I hope our team can keep our heads up throughout the whole game despite the frustration and leave everything on the field.”
The team faced San Clemente on Tuesday, Jan. 14 and lost by a score of 0-3. Senior Caitlyn Ferguson commented on the loss, “Coming into the game, we all had high expectations for ourselves, but we knew SC was going to be a challenging opponent. We have been mainly a defensive team, so letting in three goals was a tough loss, but I was proud of us for not giving up. Moving forward, we hope to secure a few wins and get our confidence back. I know all the seniors are hoping to make it to CIF for their final season.”
Senior Eve Roche remarked on the team’s strategy in the second half: “The team played more defensive while still trying to make opportunities when possible, but unfortunately, we just couldn’t finish those opportunities.”
On Thursday, Jan. 9, the team traveled to Tesoro and lost with a score of 0-1; however, the game involved much controversy. Senior Jordan Millington commented on Tesoro’s game-winning goal in the second half: “It should’ve been a goal kick, but the AR (Assistant Referee) kept it in, it bounced off our defense, resulted in a corner kick and next thing you know, the ball was in the goal. ”
In its first match of the regular season, the team faced San Juan Hills on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and the boys tied the Stallions by a score of 0-0. Despite the low score, the game escalated during a corner kick. One of the players on San Juan was marking Dana’s goalkeeper, senior Taylor Poland, and started to become angry. She then punched senior Taylor Poland in the stomach and cried in the goal.
