On Friday, Dec. 13, boys’ varsity soccer was defeated by the Everett Alvarez Eagles 2-1. The Giants had a slow start, getting beat on a ball over the top before committing a foul, giving the Eagles a penalty kick. They converted, giving Everett Alvarez a 1-0 lead with five minutes left in the first half.
At the beginning of the second half, junior Kamran Madani found senior Sam Gersch in the box, who headed the ball into the goal, tying the score 1-1. The Giants maintained strong possession the rest of the match, keeping the game tied until the Eagles broke through Redwood’s back line. Once again, the Giants fouled Everett Alvarez inside the box, giving them a penalty kick, which they scored to go ahead 2-1. Despite conceding the goal, captain Sam Gersch still had trust in his team.
“We’re very confident in our physical ability, and all of us love playing with each other. Each game comes down to our mental focus on the small details that win and lose us the games,” Gersch said.
In what was a battle of a game, seniors Wells Borden and Finn Nelson kept the team intact and supported them throughout with stellar defensive performances from both. Additionally, the pair moved the ball around the field, creating strong runs for the Giants’ front line who unfortunately could not scrape together a tying goal.
Despite the loss, senior captain Masa Fujita saw some positives from the match, and will use some of the lessons learned to be better throughout the rest of the season.
“Even though the result didn’t go our way, I think the game was in our hands the whole time,” Fujita said. “We controlled the game well and were on the front foot until the end. I think the best way we can improve is to play together more. We will learn more about how to play with each other, which will help us avoid small mistakes that cost us the game.”
