JV Red Soccer

In the final week of the season, the JV Red traveled to Pleasant Grove to play the Eagles. It was a cold rainy day and the team arrived at a field that was a complete mud pit. Pleasant Grove scored early on an unfortunate mud-aided miscommunication. The Marauders couldn’t put any offense together and was unsuccessful adapting to the poor conditions. The Eagles put in another long shot which squirted in before halftime. Down 2-0, the JV Red dug in and played mud-ball.

During a welcome break in the rain, the JV Red visited Sheldon High School on Wednesday. The last time these two teams played was before Christmas, and the Marauders were hoping for another victorious outing. Jesuit came out strong, and only two minutes into the game Ryan Young sent a through ball straight up the middle, and Sam Berry put it away after a footrace. Play evened out for the half, although Sheldon wasn’t able to mount much offense. In the 34^th minute, a shot by Alexander Maguire was redirected in by a defender.

The JV Reds hosted Cosumnes Oaks on Friday for a rematch of a competitive (3-2) game earlier in the season. This game was played on a muddy (and smaller) Lower Field as the Upper Field was unplayable. The Wolfpack came out strong and benefitted from a handball called in the penalty area, bringing the score 1-0 only 7 minutes into the game. After a couple near-goals by the Reds, Alexander Maguire had a powerful volley off a keeper punch and tied it up 1-1 at the 14^th minute. Five minutes later, Maguire found Jordan Anyimi for a goal, taking the lead.

In a much-anticipated game the Marauders hosted Davis last Friday. The muddy conditions proved problematic for both teams as it often served as an extra defender, stopping both shots and passes dead in their tracks. Davis struck first, which was not a position the JV Red has become accustomed to. Undeterred, Jesuit battled on, and was rewarded with a goal when Sam Berry passed it to Joey Afsari who all but carried it in, to make sure the mud didn’t keep it from crossing the line.  Later in the game both teams had chances, but neither could overcome the mud and convert.

The JV Reds started off the New Year with a bang as they headed to Atwater this week to face the Falcons. Jesuit wasted no time and scored within the first three minutes when Joey Afsari sent a through ball to Jordan Anyimi who put it away. Afsari’s next assist came five minutes later when his pass to Alexander Maguire was put away with a pretty, left-footed shot. In the 14^th minute, Sam Berry carried the ball from half in a foot race which brought the score 3-0.

With two games during Finals week, the Marauders travelled to Cosumnes Oaks on Monday, December 17. The opening minutes were uneventful, with both teams seeming to hold back and see what the other would do. Luckily, about ten minutes into the game Jordan Anyimi flicked a ball on to Aaron Chou who slotted it far post. Fifteen minutes later Chou put away a shot saved by the keeper. A few minutes later Chou got his hat trick with a beautiful chip into the back of the net off a long pass from Ryan Young.

West Campus visited Jesuit on Monday and from the first whistle they knew they were in for a long game. Thirty seconds into the game Jordan Anyimi took a deflected pass from the outside of the box and cures it into the far corner for his first (of many) score of the game. About ten minutes later West Campus was able to dribble through the back line and put one away. At half the score was tied 1-1. Just after the start of the second half the Marauders started playing their game. Anthony Alvarado had a great cross into Anyimi who chested, then headded it in, bringing the score 2-1.

On Tuesday, the JV Red soccer team hosted rival Christian Brothers for their first home game of the season. In the ninth minute of play, the Reds caught their first break when Jordan Anyimi’s pass found Sam Berry, who put it across the line. Just minutes later Jesuit got caught on a through ball and the Falcons tied it up 1-1. With ten minutes to go in the half Vincent Micheli got a great ball through to Sam Berry, who put it away and gave the Marauders the lead going into halftime.  The second half was evenly-played, mostly in the middle of the field.