Unsuccessful Success: Boys Soccer
Boys soccer is on the rise! Following four losses and one tie, the soccer team has made significant progress by winning two matches in a row! A commendable feat considering their record beforehand, however, despite coming out as the victor, there is much to be said about these two matches.
In their first victory, a 2-0 win over Plymouth Christian Academy, the boys demonstrated much-improved play.
According to midfielder Christian Ynclan, the team "possessed the ball really well compared to the last few games." Accurate and quick passing, coupled with solid defensive work, set the tone for the match. "We also had Alex and Sean there for the whole game for the first time," he noted, praising the consistency this brought to their lineup.
The backline, stronger than ever, benefited from a new configuration, with Alex Dumount in center back and Scully out wide—a setup that the players agreed made them more effective. Despite the positive performance, there was a sense that the scoreline should have reflected a more dominant win.
"We probably should've won by more. We had so many chances, but we're still happy with how we played," Christian added.
However, the next match against Schoolcraft, while a 3-1 victory, painted a different picture of the team's state of mind. Despite the win, the overall atmosphere seemed tense and unfocused.
Defender Alex Dumont candidly admitted, "We weren’t there mentally." The warm-ups, often a reflection of the team’s preparation, were lackluster. According to Alex, "we went in expecting an easy win," but the mentality was off. The players weren’t as locked in as they needed to be, which showed in their performance.
Too many players were "joking too much," and as Alex pointed out, the team didn’t play like they usually do, leading to a disjointed attack. The final third of the field was a particular area of struggle, with too much dribbling and not enough playmaking.
Sean, however, had a more optimistic view, saying that he was "proud" of the team, but it was clear that the lack of seriousness affected the game. Anonymous comments from within the team echoed this sentiment, highlighting low work rates, especially from the attacking players. The midfield wasn’t checking in enough, and key players weren’t dropping back to support the defense. "Weak everywhere," the anonymous source stated bluntly.
Despite the boys holding good possession in the first half, movement declined in the second, and they struggled to keep control. Christian remained hopeful, though, expressing that he’s optimistic they’ll "regain their footing."
Can they fully shake off their early-season troubles and truly come together? An upcoming match against Delton Kellogg stands as a tough team to play against. Today at 5:30 (home), these boys need as much support as they can get in hopes of a more solid victory that will set them on course for success! Go Irish!!
