By KAYLA COMBS
With breathes held as the ball bounced around the box, junior Connor Wood connected with it, earning the team a point and cheers from the crowd.
“I was proud to add another goal to the scoreboard for my team,” Wood said. “It was crucial that we scored and took control of the game.”
On Dec. 7, the boys varsity soccer team took on the Cypress Creek Bears in what was supposed to be a close match. Slowly it turned into the third shutout of the season. With 21 minutes to go in the first half, senior Leo Montaiuti scored with an assist from senior Matthew Long from defense. With several shots on goal in the rest of the half, the team went to half time 1-0.
“We were winning, but we were just going through the motions,” Long said. “Having to sprint [as punishment for not dominating the game] made us get into gear and play harder.”
After running because of their performance in the first half, the boys came out strong in the latter half to widen the margin of their lead. Wood scored 10 minutes into the half off a solid volley into the back of the net. The team’s goalkeeper, senior Alexander Herrington, had a critical save at 60 minutes to prevent the Bears from scoring.
Then, with 10 minutes remaining in the game, senior Derrick Newsome crossed a ball into the 18-yard box just as junior Jonathan Craig ran into the box. With a firm shot on goal, the ball again landed in the back of the net. The boys finished 3-0, making their season record 7-1-1.
“[Scoring] gives us more confidence in each other,” Newsome said. “[Getting the assist makes me feel] like I did my part to get the win.”