Senior Adam Dean (21) chases a ball downfield to steer it away from the Cavs’ goal.
The boys’ soccer team ended last season by defeating their rivals, the Sacramento Waldorf Waves, in the section championship, 3-0.
But this is a new season with a new team. In the off season, the boys lost former students B.J. Askew and Jayce McCain due to transfers and senior Jesus Galindo-Sanchez to basketball.
The loss of Askew and McCain heavily impacted the team, according to senior Emil Erickson.
“Basically, we lost one of our best attackers (Askew) and one of our best midfielders (McCain),” Erickson said.
And the Cavs felt their absence when they fell in their first game of the season against the Waterford High School Wildcats, 1-3, on Nov. 28.
Senior Emil Erickson (20) catches up with a Waterford player to regain control of the ball.
Sophomore Nate Jakobs said the Wildcats handled and passed the ball well.
“We couldn’t even touch the ball for a couple minutes,” Jakobs said.
So the Cavs decided to let the Wildcats pass the ball in the backfield and forced them to attack, which is when the game really started.
This freed up the field, and at 15 minutes in, senior Aidan Cunningham streaked down the right side of the field, beating a couple defenders.
Cunningham then crossed the ball perfectly to Jakobs, who controlled the ball with his chest. Jakobs volleyed the ball into the near side of the goal for the first goal of the year, putting the Cavs up, 1-0.
But the rest of the half remained stagnant for both teams, neither being able to find offensive success. After multiple failed attempts from both sides, the half ended, 1-0.
The Wildcats came into the second half stronger and with a new game plan: to increase the tempo and keep up offensive pressure.
This opened up the lanes and allowed the Wildcats to get shots on goal. A few minutes in, a Waterford player got a shot from the top of the box and tied it up, 1-1.
Sophomore Nate Jakobs stands up after sliding in the mud.
The Wildcats stayed true to their game plan, keeping up offensive pressure.
Ten minutes later, the Wildcats were in a similar position that set up their last goal and were on target again, taking the lead, 2-1.
According to Jakobs, the Cavs had a few chances in the second half but could not convert.
Sophomore Benett Sackheim, right, leaps in the air to block a ball with his head and defend the Cavalier goal.
Then with a few minutes remaining, the Wildcats put the game out of reach with another goal.
Going forward, Erickson thinks the Cavs will be able to reach their previous form.
“We have a couple of spots to fill, but I think we saw today that we have the talent to do so,” Erickson said.
The Cavs look to bounce back against the Victory Christian Vikings on Friday, Dec. 2, at home at 3:30 p.m.
—By Jake Longoria
