Junior Adam Dean fights for possession with a Knights' player in the Cavs' first playoff game against Forest Lake. The Cavs won 6-1on Nov. 5.

Boys start off strong, cruise to 6-1 playoff victory over Forest Lake

After beating Forest Lake Christian, 3-0, on Sept. 15 in the regular season, the boys’ varsity soccer team felt confident and ready to face them in the first round of playoffs.

“I’m a little nervous but mostly excited,” said junior Jesus Galindo-Sanchez about playing in his first playoff game ever.

Junior Adam Dean said the Cavs would have to start out strong in order to win the game.

“If we come out timid, it won’t bode well for us,” Dean said.

Dean was 100 percent correct  The Cavs scored five of their six goals in their 6-1 victory in the first half.

The first came within minutes of the start. Sophomore B.J. Askew controlled the ball on the right side of the field. He crossed the ball to Galindo-Sanchez, who had a defender on his right side. But because Galindo-Sanchez is left-footed, he could pin the ball in the right corner of the goal, giving the Cavs a 1-0 lead.

The Cavs were able to win balls in the air, which resulted in holding possession on the Falcons’ side of the field. When the Falcons took a goal kick, the ball went off the goalie’s foot incorrectly.

Sophomore Theo Kaufman took advantage and stole the ball at the top of the box. He launched it into the back of the net, increasing the Cavs’ lead to 2-0.

Sophomore Jayce McCain sends the ball into the back of the net.
Ethan Hockridge
Sophomore Jayce McCain sends the ball into the back of the net.

Sophomore Jayce McCain wanted to get in on the scoring fest, so he took it into his own hands. McCain dribbled the ball down the field and through the Falcons’ defense into the box. He finished his run with a finesse shot, curving in the air, to put the Cavs up, 3-0.

While holding field position, the Cavs forced the Falcons to kick the ball out of bounds, resulting in a corner kick. Kaufman lined up the corner and waited for the play to form.

Kaufman kicked the ball right to Askew, who was streaking towards the goal. Askew banged the ball into the net, giving the Cavs a 4-0 lead.

But Askew wasn’t done. He immediately went aggressive and got the ball in scoring position. Getting the ball to the 18, Askew fired and scored, putting the Cavs up, 5-0, in the first half.

In the second half, both Galindo-Sanchez and Askew were awarded yellow cards, so coach Matt Vargo took them out of the game.

With new players on the field, there was miscommunication, which resulted in the Falcons slipping by the Cavs’ defense. Taking advantage, the Falcons scored their first goal, and it was 5-1.

With the game closing, Kaufman wanted to add to his stats. He dribbled past a Falcons’ defender at the top left of the box and juked to the middle.

Kaufman shot the ball through the Knights’ defense. It bounced off a defender’s shin and into the goal, putting the final score to 6-1.

Vargo attributes the dominating performance to playing like a team.

“We were sharing the ball, and we’re peaking as a team at the right time, during playoffs,” Vargo said.

The Cavs’ next game will be at Trinity Prep on Wednesday,  Nov. 11.

—By Jake Longoria

 

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