On Jan. 21, the boys varsity soccer team came out with intensity in a Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) rivalry game against the Archie Williams Falcons, ending in a 1-1 draw. The Falcons opened with an early goal, motivating the Giants to up the pace and fight until the whistle, ultimately ending in a 1-1 draw.
From the start, Archie Williams was playing hard. Their aggression and tenacity allowed them to score a quick goal to go up by one. This didn’t shake Redwood as they maintained their composure and confidence.
Last season, when the Giants faced the Falcons, it was one of their most difficult matchups. Head Coaches Will Finnie and Adam Ure made slight adjustments to prepare for this match.
“After our loss against San Rafael, we dropped a player into the midfield to make us stronger defensively moving forward,” Ure said.
Despite the early goal by the Falcons, the Giants kept their spirits up and continued to battle throughout the game, creating many goal opportunities. Sophomore Hunter Genant, one of Redwood’s key defensive players, reflected on their previous loss to San Rafael and how they shifted their mindset.
“This game, we just stepped up the energy and continued to play hard,” Genant said.
Senior goalie Nick Vicente also spoke on the team’s unwavering perseverance and determination to score.
“In the first half, we finally figured [the game] out, and started moving the ball effectively. That was a game changer for us because it built confidence in the game, which [helped] our energy,” Vicente said.
Redwood’s grit paid off. In the last 3 minutes of the game, junior Cole Guerrero had a successful goal, securing the final 1-1 tie.
