VC Boys JV Records First WCAL Win

Valley Christian 5, Sacred Heart Cathedral 0

On the heels of a tough loss at the hands of Archbishop Mitty, the Valley Christian boys JV soccer team focused on besting Sacred Heart Cathedral. The weather was picture perfect Saturday and the VC boys came out determined and ready to play.  In search of their first WCAL win ever, the Warriors took the field without key center defender Tyler Williamson (sick); but Kyle Rosa did a great job stuffing the middle in his place, going the entire distance. VC began the game fired up and focused on putting the ball in the SHC net within the first 15 minutes of the game. They just missed that objective, as forward Ryan Favre took a perfect slot-pass from midfielder John Walitsch and fired it into the back of the SHC goal 17 minutes in, to open the scoring.

The JV Warriors played an inspired game, taking control from the opening kickoff and never letting up. The Warriors attack pressured the SHC backs hard, making great runs and well-timed passes as they dominated the turf on offense, defense and at midfield most of the game. The VC defense of Tyler Seaman, Robert Norman, Mike Hill and Kyle Rosa worked so hard and so well that SHC never got a quality shot on goal in the first half, leaving keeper Theo Matheou with little to do besides direct and cheer on his defensive unit. Midfielder Kegan Garrison put in VC’s second goal; launching a great shot from distance into the corner of the SHC goal near the end of the half. 2-0 VC at the break.

After a halftime warning not to get overconfident, and to stay focused, the Warriors came out for the second half fired up and ready to add more goals. Nick Neilsen took his turn in goal determined to maintain the clean sheet. It didn’t take long to notch another VC goal as Ryan Favre drew the defense inside and then fed the ball out to sprinting winger John Hughes who fired a rocket past the diving SHC keeper. 3-0 VC. Sacred Heart kept playing hard but the confident Warriors moved the ball around the field sharply and with purpose, probing for more opportunities. Just seven minutes later Favre notched his second goal of the match on a well-timed cross from Kegan Garrison. Favre had his finest game of the season so far. Not to be outdone Kegan put in his second goal of the match with a brilliant free kick from 30 yards out into the upper V of the far post in the 71^st minute.

The determined VC defensive unit allowed only one weak shot on goal the second half, which Neilsen easily collected and quickly turned into a rapid counter-attack. The inspired VC defense kept shutting down the SHC attack time and again. Tyler Seaman, Robert Norman and Mike Hill continued their consistently solid team play with Kyle Rosa doing an outstanding job shutting down the middle. A determined SHC team never gave up and kept looking for ways to come back and score; but the smothering VC defense played an outstanding game and never game them the chance.

After the game, JV coach Terry McElhatton told the boys, "There are no easy wins in the WCAL, especially for a young, freshman-heavy JV team, but you earned this win and clean sheet through your tenacity, work rate and focus on executing the fundamentals. Sacred Heart played hard and never gave up and they deserve our respect. Today, we showed we wanted to win more, as you played with great heart and superb teamwork. Savor the taste of this first ever Valley Christian boys JV WCAL win, and remember how great it feels! This excellent game bodes well for VC’s soccer future”

The entire roster played in this first JV league victory, which puts the VC JV at 2-3-0, 1-3-0 (WCAL) going into a two week break from league play, and facing Lincoln HS on the 28^th. The team is determined to come back from the break ready to finish the season with more solid play.

vcsoccer.com man of the match: Ryan Favre (2 goals, 1 assist)

Scoring:

Favre (Walitsch) - 17th minute

Garrison (unassisted) - 35th minute

Hughes (Favre) – 50^th minute

Favre (Garrison) – 57^th minute

Garrison (free kick) – 71^st minute

VC Starting Lineup: Matheou, Seaman, Norman, Rosa, Hill, Rothenberg, Garrison, Hughes, Walitsch, Favre, Peirera 

Weather:  Sunny and clear - 67 degrees

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