By Miles Eller and Giuseppe Palmer, staff writers
The Boys Soccer team began their season with a rollercoaster of emotions in their first two games as they lost to Lowell (2-0) on Tuesday, January 3rd and redeemed themselves with a 2-1 win against Marshall, Thursday the 5th.
After their positive record in the preseason at 3 wins, 2 losses and a draw, the team was feeling confident, and prepared to take on the defending champions at their home ground: Lowell. The game started off fairly evenly, with both teams having good possession of the ball, and only a few futile shots from Lowell to lead to a nil-nil score at halftime. However, within the first 10 minutes of the second half, Lowell scored from a cross into the goalkeeper’s box to make it 1-0. All of Lion’s efforts to close the point differential were in vain, and Lowell managed to put another goal on the board with a late corner kick into a header, making the final score 2 Lowell, 0 Galileo.
After that heartbreaking defeat in their first game, the boys took Wednesday to rest (as practice was canceled due to an oncoming storm), and turned their attention to the second game of the season, and turning their around the rough start to the season. When asked about how he thought the team performed, team captain Logan Tracy said, “I think it was definitely something to build on, and I expect us to improve as the season progresses.”
2 days later, on a rainy day at Marshall’s Silver Terrace welcomed the Lions to what would be a scrappy and messy game. Both teams battled brutally and seemed prepared to go all out for the win. Both teams fouled the other for a total of 20-30 times, leading to many players being sent to the bench with a yellow card, as well as Galileo Coach Mendoza being sent off with a red card towards the very end of the game. A Marshall foul in the 20th minute allowed senior captain Logan Tracy a free kick which he lobbed the ball to a teammate who scored the first goal for the Lions. Galileo managed to hold off Marshall for the remainder of the half and late in the second, before Marshall finally managed to get a goal back to even the scoreline.
It seemed like the game would end as a draw until another free kick was granted to Tracy in a dangerous area with only 3 minutes left in the game. This time Tracy’s ball found the head of defender and junior, Jackson Vazquez, to give the Lions their first win of the season at 2-1. After the fact the team’s second captain, senior Adam B., said, “Things are really looking up for this team, we played much more like a team in this game.”
When asked about how he thought the season would pan out after their first two games, senior Finn Weiss said, “I think we should be able to do well this season if we continue playing like a team and overcoming the tough opponents.” Next, the Lions hope to continue their winning streak at Washington on the 12th.
