With time winding down and pressure building, games are stressful and players look for any way to win.
In the jv soccer game against Reedy, junior Brady Gough found himself in the right place at the right time. A mistake by Reedy’s defense left an opening and an opportunity to score that Gough took advantage of.
“It kind of just happened since their defense made a mistake. We just had an open goal,” Gough said.
The moment the ball hit the back of the net, coaches, players, and fans erupted. The entire team sprinted to the corner, celebrating what would ultimately be the game-sealing goal.
“Everyone was super excited. We all rushed to the corner to celebrate,” sophomore Armando Soto said.
Reedy was a tough opponent, but that goal shifted the energy completely. The team’s confidence rose, and from that moment on, they knew they had the win.
“After I scored, everyone was really confident and felt good that we were going to win,” Gough said.
However, the victory wasn’t defined by the one goal. Throughout the second half, the team’s chemistry and energy was high and that helped carry them to success.
“Towards the second half, we started to feel more energy in the game and that helped seal it for us,” junior Brayden Friesen said. “It gave us the mindset that we could come back and win.”
The midfield played a crucial role in maintaining possession and controlling the pace. They helped open up opportunities for the offense to seal the game.
“Our midfield kind of sealed the game for us. They were able to move the ball around and help seal the game,” Friesen said.
The win against Reedy went beyond the scoreboard, it was a defining moment for the team. The chemistry was stronger, the confidence grew, and the morale was at an all-time high.
“Chemistry definitely went up because of the win,” Soto said.
With this victory, the team proved they could rise to the challenge, fight through adversity, and finish strong. And, thanks to Gough’s game-sealing goal, they walked away with a memory that would last long after the final whistle.
