The boys’ soccer season can be explained in three words: determination, grit and persistence. Their Varsity team, led by head Coach Clarke, assistant Coach Jago and Coach Kaelber, finished the season with 7 wins, 11 losses, and a 1 tie record. This year’s record was the same as the previous year. Despite a repetitive record, this was a big accomplishment for the varsity team that had challenges after losing graduated starters and playing with first-time starters.

The team had three captains: Nigel Pala, Ethan Figueroa, and Ryan Vasquez, who have all gotten the team through the season and inspired them to play with grit and tenacity until the end.

“I felt the team’s biggest achievement was playing against a top team in the state, Hillsborough. We fought through poor conditions on the road to keep the game tied at 2 and 2 until the very end where Hillsborough won beating Woodbridge with a 3-2.”, said Ryan Vasquez, one of three captains on the team as well as the team’s center back.

Coach Clarke, going back to preseason workouts, emphasized that a good varsity soccer player needs fundamentals and expectations in order for them to be successful as a player on and off the field.

“The one thing I would take away from this season is the fact that we have to play the entire game,” said head coach Clarke on lessons that can be learned from this talented team.

“I was most proud to see my players fight through the season and to see the seniors get a win on senior night against JFK.”, Coach Clarke continued.

 Midfielder Nigel Pala shared some goals he had for himself and the team this year. Some of his personal goals included two important things to him such as being a divisional player selection in addition to this he wanted a focal point of his play this year to be his leadership as a captain, and to help the young players that made up a portion of the varsity roster whether they were underclassmen or inexperienced players.

“Despite the team’s high levels of talent, they never reached full potential throughout the season.”, Nigel explained, “I felt honored to be a part of the program and able to play for and represent my school.

Captain Ryan Vasquez’s driving force for himself was just the want of progression, as he wanted himself and his teammates to work to improve. In order to get good results in games, according to Vasquez, one must leave everything on the field and do the little things right whether it was on the practice field or come game time.