On Thursday night, Jan. 12, the Boone boys soccer team (6-2-8) took on the Olympia Titans (15-3-3) on the Reservation.
At the beginning of the game the Braves and the Titans kept a strong offense challenging their team’s defense. Just a few minutes into the game junior Jonathan De Lucca scored a long shot making the score 1-0.
“We went [into this game] knowing that it was one of the toughest games we would play the whole season so we knew we had to fight and although we didn’t get the exact result we hoped for we were happy that we were able to compete with a team such as Olympia,” junior Nathan Wendling said.
Keeping up the intensity senior Hunter Reddick took a free kick from outside the 18 yard box, but it fell short and the Titan defense cleared it. Shortly after, senior Hunter Strickland took a corner kick and the Titan defense cleared it too.
Junior Jake Stewartson made a diving save protecting the goal from Olympia. The Titans came back after this and scored tying the game 1-1.
Coming back up the field, De Lucca scored, again, to put the Braves ahead, 2-1. Before the half ended junior Eber Ramirez took a shot on goal, but the Titan goalkeeper made the save.
At the end of the first half the score remained 2-1.
Coming back from the first half Stewartson made two saves back-to-back. With the Olympia offense becoming more aggressive, the Braves defense stepped up and kept the intensity against the Titans.
Olympia scored after Stewartson made another save tying the game 2-2. Not letting down, sophomore Tucker Schwartz kept pressure on the Titans offense. The Braves tied the Olympia Titans 2-2.
“This win shows [our team] that we are able to compete with some of the best teams despite our previous record, so it will give us the confidence going forward to fight and play like we have been playing recently,” Wendling said.
The boys’ next soccer game is Tuesday, Jan. 17, against the Ocoee Knights (8-9-0) at Ocoee High School at 7 p.m.