Senior Theo Kaufman dribbles away from a Western Sierra player.
Western Sierra Academy’s soccer team isn’t much of a challenging competitor, senior Theo Kaufman said.
What is challenging is dealing with the number of insults they hurl at the Cavs.
“They were mocking me and trying to get under my skin,” Kaufman said. “They just thought they were a lot better than everyone else.”
Luckily, Kaufman was able to ignore the Wolves’ taunts and score a goal in the second half of the team’s home game on Feb. 5, leading the Cavs to a 1-0 victory.
Kaufman said he had attempted to score a goal twice before but hit the post both times.
Then his sister, junior Lia Kaufman, took a corner kick. As Theo was near the penalty area, he was able to volley the ball into the bottom right corner, he said.
But trash talk wasn’t the only challenge Western Sierra created for the Cavs.
Western Sierra made the Cavs work for their victory. Though the Wolves lacked a real keeper during the game, their goalkeeping and passing were still impressive, coach Matt Vargo said.
Theo agreed.
“They have a couple of strong players that have the potential to do some damage,” he said.
Communication was another issue, Vargo and junior Brandy Riziki said.
Riziki also said the Cavs need needs to take advantage of every shot and pressure the opposition while on defense.
But despite these setbacks, the Cavs played effectively.
“(We) play tough every game,” Vargo said.
“The team really supported each other,” Rikiki added. “ I love our team because we really push through during the whole game.”
The Cavs faced John Adams Academy at home at 4 p.m. on Feb. 6 and Buckingham Charter Magnet High School at home at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 8.
—By Héloïse Schep
