Injuries limited options boys’ varsity soccer lost 0-1 against Homestead
Coming off a 2-3 loss to Fremont High School, the boys varsity soccer team hoped that a match against Homestead could be the starting point for a season turnaround. However, injuries to players such as goalkeeper junior Matthew Irvin, sophomore Bobak Ohadi, and junior Clayton Pugh meant options were limited as they narrowly lost, 0-1, to visiting Homestead High School.
The Matadors lined up in a new 4-4-2 formation, with senior captain Josh LeFevre and sophomore Chris Koski playing up top as strikers. Slippery field conditions led to sloppy play by both teams, and neither side could generate much pressure as the players made poor passes through the midfield, leading to many interceptions. By the end of the first half, neither side had any clear chances on net, and the game remained scoreless.
“First half, there was one point where I was a little bit scared, but I know a couple guys on [MVHS], so I know how they play. I [also] know the forward and how he plays, so it wasn’t too bad,” captain and goalie senior Dylan Martino of Homestead said.
The game seemed to open up a bit more as the second half began — the Matadors went back to a 4-5-1 formation with LeFevre playing as the lone striker. A key change in the Homestead lineup was the substitution of Martino for the backup goalkeeper but the Matadors failed to take advantage of the less experienced player.
During a quick counterattack about ten minutes into the second half, Homestead produced a quick shot that found the back of the net, making the score 0-1.
The best chance of the game for the team to equalize came when senior Michael Kute’s pass sent LeFevre on a breakaway, but his shot hit the crossbar and went flying over the top for a goal kick. At the other end, goalkeeper senior Jonathan Yee made a stunning save from a 6-yard shot.
In the tense final minutes of the game, a Homestead player found himself on a partial breakaway. Junior Boson Wang caught up with the Homestead striker, but as Yee also came out to play the ball, Wang was pushed into Yee and his cleat caught Yee in the face, fracturing his cheekbone. With no other options, senior Jeremy Dor donned a pair of gloves and stepped in to play goalkeeper to finish out the match. The game ended 0-1, putting the Matadors 0-2 on the season and giving Homestead a 2-0 record, with their other win being a 1-0 victory over Wilcox.
“I think we did pretty well defensively. The goal was obviously very lucky,” junior Malek Bashti said. “We just were unfortunate on the offensive side, we couldn’t create many chances, so that’s something we need to work on as the season goes on.”
The next chance for the boys’ soccer team to get their season on the right track will be January 12, against Wilcox High School at home at 3:30 p.m.
