Boys set back by roster absences

Jianlan Busteed, Asst. Opinion Editor|January 19, 2022

After a preseason plagued by injuries and devastating losses, the boys soccer team ended with a record of 3-7-2. However, with many players are on the path to recovery, and still others out for Covid, the team has few substitutes going into League.

Although the team began League play with a 3-1 loss against Los Altos, head coach Pete Orosco praised the team’s ball control, saying the goals could have been easily prevented. After making some small tweaks, the team quickly made up for the previous loss and won 4-2 against Wilson.

“I believe we will have a successful season and [I] like the way we have played the last two games,” Orosco said via email.

Leading up to last Tuesday’s tough 5-0 loss to South Hills, the team felt that they were not mentally prepared. Carrying that mentality into the game, the team struggled with communication, comprehension of game tactics and tackles.

“We didn’t play well, because we weren’t mentally ready going into the games,” senior captain Jackson Haynes said. “We approached the game way too relaxed, and the results showed it.”

However, after their game against South Hills, testing showed numerous Covid cases across the team. Unable to continue playing, the team went on a seven-day shutdown set to be lifted this Thursday, causing their games to be rescheduled. 

“The new Covid variant has made our season unpredictable,” Haynes said. “Being flexible has been hard.”

The team is also facing challenges in their defense with junior left defensive back Michael Chang out for the next few weeks. To make up for his absence, other players have been substituted into defense. Newer defenders, namely freshman Ethan Nguyen and junior Elijah Robinson, stepped up to fill the gaps left by the injured, giving them much needed play time and experience.

“Injuries also created opportunities to look at players who were not starters,” Orosco said. “We are able to count on them when starters need breaks during a game in the regular season.”

This season, Orosco said he saw more injuries than any other year he has coached high school soccer. Despite this, captains Haynes and Damian Mata have worked hard to build team chemistry and keep the team focused on their goals.

“When the team is healthy, we will be a tough team to beat, and we will have a good shot at securing a spot at CIF,” Orosco said. 

 If additional Covid cases don’t appear, the team’s next home game is Feb. 1, against rival Walnut High School, where the team hopes to recreate their previous successes.