The sun went down promptly after the first half, and the floodlights came on shortly afterward. There were only 15 people in the stands, some too busy heckling each other to  watch the game. But on the field, the MVHS boys varsity soccer team wanted to make a statement, by winning a second consecutive home game.

The team played San Benito HS in their fourth preseason game, hoping to get a win and stay undefeated at home. To get the win, MVHS would have to outplay a more physical SBHS team and overcome a slew of injuries to some of their starting players. Ultimately, MVHS overcame a one goal deficit in the first half to end the game in a 1-1 tie, bringing their record to 2-1-1.

The numerous injuries affected MVHS in the early stages of the first half; with many players playing out of position SBHS was able to attack and put pressure on the MVHS backline. The constant physical play of SBHS troubled MVHS, with the Matadors not being able to get much possession during the majority of the first half.

With 10 minutes left in the first half, SBHS took the lead on a pass that went over the MVHS defenders. Goalkeeper senior Sassan Hashemi was forced to come out of the goal, and the SBHS player scored in top right corner of the goal.

MVHS played much more aggressively in the second half and pressured SBHS much higher up the field than in the first half. Senior Nikash Narula with the rest of the MVHS frontline pressured the SBHS backline, gaining more possession and creating shots on goal.  

MVHS went on the attack with less than 10 minutes to go in the half, and Narula drew a foul right outside the 18 yd box. MVHS was awarded with a free kick; senior Ori Lavi lined up to take the shot and scored it in the upper right hand corner of the goal, out of the SBHS goalie’s reach, making the game tied at 1-1.

“Four of us lined up to take the shot I was going to differ,” Lavi said. “Both of them told me to take it, and the second it left my foot, I could tell it was going to go in.”

From that point on, MVHS had control of the game. The pace of the game changed with   12 minutes left; MVHS backed off the possession and SBHS began to regain momentum. SBHS put as many men as they could forward in an effort to score, but the MVHS backline put on a frenzied defense, with goalie senior Vincent Kao saving multiple shots to seal the game in a 1-1 tie.

“We were able to put a lot more pressure on them,” Narula said, “and I think we just had a lot more energy in the second half.”