Varsity Boys Soccer secured a 2-0 victory against Milpitas High School on Thursday, Feb. 6. The match remained scoreless in the first half, with both teams battling heavy wind and rain. However, MVHS gained momentum in the second half, scoring twice to lock in their win.
Despite the challenging conditions, MVHS maintained possession and controlled the game’s tempo. According to senior, striker and captain Royce Tse, the team played well as a collective unit. However, he acknowledged that the rainy weather and MHS’ aggressive play made the game more challenging than they previously expected.
The match’s momentum shifted in MVHS’ favor when an MHS player received a red card in the first half, forcing their team to play with 10 players, in comparison to MVHS’ 11 players. While MVHS pushed forward on counterattacks and moved the ball effectively, the team struggled to break through MHS’ defensive line initially.
“We wanted to be a lot more aggressive on the ball since they got a red card in the first half,” Tse said. “It meant that we were up a player in almost every play but we just didn’t quite take advantage of it yet.”
MVHS broke the deadlock in the second half, scoring its first goal. This ultimately boosted team morale, with the second goal following soon after. Center-back senior Spandan Dutta emphasized the team’s defensive strength and resilience in the face of difficult weather conditions.
“The team did well to play to our level despite the weather,” Dutta said. “We all defended as a team and supported each other. This is something we have done throughout the season and look to continue as the season comes to a close.”
Though pleased with the win, Tse emphasizes the team’s need to maintain a high-intensity spirit throughout the game, especially after halftime when the team’s momentum tends to drop.
“I think we can definitely work on our mindset at halftime since it does seem like our intensity can drop between the break,” Tse said. “They seemed to have a lot of momentum going forward into the second half, but we still managed to play through and score two goals.”
Dutta echoed Tse’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of continuing to play well after a difficult half. He stressed that the team should not let setbacks affect their performance and needed to stay disciplined throughout the match.
“The team as a whole needs to work on improving their morale and commitment after a loss,” Dutta said. “We also need to work on applying the strategies we discuss during practice to actual games.”
Looking ahead, the team remains focused on finishing the season strong. Tse, who found himself discouraged due to a lack of goals and assists, regained confidence after he scored the first goal during this match. Tse hopes the team can continue refining their attacking strategies, particularly by utilizing all players more effectively to create more scoring opportunities.
“Since I scored, I think it gave me a bit more motivation for me to realize that I have an impact on the team, especially as a captain,” Tse said. “For our next games, I think we should just work on being creative with our midfielders. We use them but not as an outlet or connection to our attackers very much.”
