Bright, looming spotlights shine from the night sky tower over the grassy pitch. A brisk wind glides through the air, chilling the warm spring evening. Fans roar from the sidelines, each cheering for their respective team. These are just some of the things that define the perfect conditions for a soccer match, but despite all that, what really makes the game such a spectacle is the players giving 100% effort on the field. One player might show his fancy footwork and juke to the right, faking the defender and passing by him to the left with finesse. Another player might pass the ball to the right, immediately receiving it back after executing a perfect cut towards the goal, bypassing two defenders with his precise timing. Even in that same play, the offensive player might strike a powerful shot towards the net, only to be stopped by an athletic and perfectly timed dive from the keeper, saving his team from what could be a costly goal.  While perfect conditions can make a soccer match truly a sight to see, beautiful game play makes the game breathtaking, game play executed by the Jesuit varsity team against every single opponent.
This month, March 2016, the Jesuit varsity soccer team competed in five games. The games were of great importance, as the post-season was approaching and playoffs were just around the corner. Overall, the team had excelled throughout the year, winning almost every single game in district, and many of the players were aware of it. Portraying the team’s success, Mateo Means ’17 stated, “We have been eating through district.” An opinion shared by many on the team based on their many preceding victories.  The team’s confidence allowed them to secure their district championship, but not before a month of close games.
Starting it all off, varsity soccer played Irving Nimitz at Postell Stadium on March 1. Defending their home turf, Jesuit came out of the game with a decisive 2-0 victory. The success was beginning to pervade March, but the next game proved to be a minor obstacle. On March 4, the team faced W.T. White at their field, Loos stadium, but unfortunately came out with a 0-0 tie. This was very disappointing for the players, and it soon turned into an abnormal streak with a 0-0 tie against MacArthur on March 5 at MacArthur High School and a 1-1 tie against R.L. Turner on March 15 at Standridge Stadium. Despite these unsatisfying results, varsity soccer won district because of their record and advanced to playoffs. Marking the beginning of their playoff march, the team played one last game on March 26 against Richardson at Richardson High School. Matching the excitement that comes with entering playoffs, the thrilling match went into overtime, and Jesuit ultimately came out on top 3-1. With this grand achievement, the team ultimately saw March as a major success, but with a tough road ahead it’s important to see how the players are feeling about the whole season in general to get a glimpse into how the rest of playoffs will go.
Numerous players on varsity have their own opinions about the season, and overall, they all seem to believe that the team excelled this year and had great teamwork. Voicing his optimistic attitude, Ethan Moore ’17 stated, “We felt like we had a very successful regular season [and] district and are very confident that our current form can translate into a great post-season…showing.” Mateo Means reflected this stance, going into more detail: “We have been playing well in the regular season and our chemistry has improved as a team and we are used to playing with each other. We all love playing with each other so that’s why we are doing well. [The] road to state starts in the regular season, and we know that. So we had to stay focused in regular season, and we did.” Adding a little more perspective to the season, Chase Burciaga ’17 proclaimed, “Injuries plagued us in the beginning but we managed to stay strong, and everyone, from the seniors, to the juniors, to the called up-JV players did their part to help us claim the district title.” Even with an absence of some important players, varsity still seemed to win due to crucial performances from some of the back-ups, revealing that success came from a true team effort. Overall, the team has done exceptional this season, and it looks like Jesuit will go deep into playoffs this year.
The playoffs are just beginning, and the next game is Friday, April 1 against North Garland. The team needs as much support as it can get, so please come and support your Jesuit Rangers!
