Updated Oct. 5: A previous version of the story that appeared on Oct. 4 included incorrect pronouns. A reference to the team’s gender has been removed.
Once the clock begins counting down, the ball is passed and dribbled among the MVHS players along with shouts of encouragement. Having beaten Homestead High School before, the team was a little dismayed when the first half of the game on Oct. 1 didn’t go as planned. It was only during the second half when the team found their familiar cadence and scored to beat the HHS Mustangs.
Photos by Justin Kim and Karen Ma.
Team captain junior Kristina Wang explained that their passes weren’t connected at first, resulting in faulty play.
“We had to get a rhythm going,” Wang said. “But if we could get it going from the start then that would be really good.”
However, with 18 overall shots on goal, concrete defense and improved synergy among the team, the Matadors were able to come through in the second half with a goal made by senior Julia Lu.
“By the end, we’d gotten it together,” team captain senior Allegra Ziegler Hunts said. “We had lots of passing, good give-and-go’s, good movement, crossing. We knew where our teammates were.” The team’s swift, adept play that followed prevented HHS from maintaining possession of the ball for long periods of time.
“We developed an excellent rhythm in the last 20 minutes,” team captain senior Mallory Strom said. “We were totally controlling the game in the last 20 minutes.”
Despite MVHS’ domination in the second half, senior Natalie Thé wished to find more opportunities to cut into open space, follow through on shots and have a more offensive push to begin with. Her perseverant offense was shown all throughout the game and played a major role in keeping HHS from scoring.
“It’s just a couple of people with sticks and a goalie in the way,” Thé said.
The team’s next home game will be on Oct. 8 against Lynbrook at 3:30.
