Boys’ Soccer Faces Deficient Scores at Season End

JAMES HO
Copy Editor
Almont League winds to an end just as the sun begins to heat up the grassy soccer fields here in California. The boys’ varsity soccer team at AHS faces a tough reality at this closing point.
So far the team has only won two games, where they beat Mark Keppel twice. The other eight games ended in losses for the varsity team that has surprisingly young members. Seven returning players are paired with freshmen this year, as there were not enough experienced players to take the varsity stage.
“With a new team comes bigger challenges. This year we were rebuilding the team and working out the kinks,” said varsity Captain Rodrigo Banuelos.
Indeed, it is the inexperience of the players that is a main obstacle for the team. Varsity teams usually consist of mostly senior members and a mostly freshmen team is rare. Other league teams have much more experienced players.
“Next year the team will know each other better. We’ll have more confidence, trust and a family feel that will give us more of an advantage. At the same time we will be working harder in our games,” said Banuelos.
The Moors did not place within the top three ranks in the league standings to qualify for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championships, as Bell Gardens and Schurr are currently tied for first place. The focus at this point is to unite and prepare for next year’s season.
“Our Head Coach Netza Bravo is with us the whole way and is really motivational,” said Banuelos.