The Galileo boys soccer season abruptly ended with a loss to Thurgood Marshall, 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs, on February 22nd. The team saw losing as a great failure, as the team had ambitions of ending the 20 year streak since the last time the Lions have won a boys soccer AAA championship.
Many on the team felt like the match could have gone differently, and were saddened by the outcome. “I’m disappointed because it wasn’t what we wanted or expected about the game; we prepared the game one way but a early penalty against us changed the whole game. Players were down and the other team’s players gained confidence,” said coach Diaz.
From the start of the match it was an uphill climb for the Lions. They got down quickly to Marshall, as 3 minutes into the match a controversial penalty was called on the Lions, even though they thought there was no contact from the player from Galileo on the player from Marshall. Marshall scored on the ensuing penalty kick to take the lead.
The Lions’ bad luck continued, as it only took 10 minutes for Marshall to score their second goal after a breakdown in the Lions defense making it 2-0.
Many of the Galileo players felt like the match was unfairly called after the referee did not call a penalty in favor of Galileo when a Marshall player shoved a Galileo player in the back. Galileo players also felt it was unfair that a number of fouls were called against Galileo, as the Lions received 5 yellow cards in just the first half of the game, which led to Marshall scoring another 2 goals.
The Lions players finally woke up in the 2nd half but it was too little too late. Galileo took advantage of a free kick as midfielder Yaya M. scored the first goal of the game for the Lions Midfielder Allan C. added a second goal off a corner kick by midfielder Logan T, but it was too little too late as that was the last goal for the Lions.
Despite the way the season ended, some players were encouraged by the way the season went. Freshman forward Allan Z. said, “I feel good because the team really understands each othe, some games we we were off page, but overall I think we showed other schools who Galileo is this season.”
