By Justin Hsieh and Karen Phan, Staff Writers
This afternoon, the boys’ varsity soccer team took on the Laguna Beach High School Breakers and emerged victorious with a score of 3-1.
The game opened with aggressive offense from the Barons, with multiple goal attempts within the first ten minutes. After 20 minutes of changing possession and frequent movement up and down the field, sophomore Malachi Wright broke away to score the first goal of the game.
Despite an increase in intensity from the Breakers following the first goal, the Barons kept up the heat and saw multiple strong attempts at goal by Malachi Wright and juniors Connor and Cantor Wright.
In the 31st minute of the half, sophomore Sebastian Rus scored off of Malachi Wright’s blocked penalty kick. After one more close goal attempt by Malachi Wright, the half ended with the Barons leading 2-0.
In the beginning of the second half, the Barons took immediate possession of the ball, and in the second minute of the half Malachi Wright broke through the Breakers’ defense to score the Barons’ third goal. The game continued with the same back-and-forth movement as the first half, until Laguna Beach managed to score a goal in the last 10 minutes of the game.
“It was good; we won, we had to win. I mean so far it was the biggest game of our season because without a win we run the risk of not making playoffs, we run the risk of definitely not winning league, so this keeps us alive for a championship,” said Head Coach Jason Smith.
The Barons now lead the Sunset Wave League with a 3-1 record. They will play at Marina High School on Friday and at Huntington Beach High School next Wednesday for their final league games of the season.
“I like our chances, we just have to play batter,” said Smith. “It’s focus. We’re our own worst enemy; we beat ourselves… High school soccer is a game of emotion; the team that has the most energy and the most will to win usually wins. It’s not about talent and skill. It’s about who wants it.”
