Stratford started the home scrimmage vs Brazoswood High School with an edge on possession for the first 20 minutes of play. However, the boys were not able to connect on a couple early point-blank shots that were deflected by the Brazoswood defense. Stratford continued to press the opponents defense with Hamdan Al-Tuma making a nice crossing pass to Nathan Purvis, but the shot was wide. Hamdan had his own scoring opportunity three minutes later but that was wide of the goal also. As the half progressed, Brazoswood started to make progress with incursions into the Stratford end with their first meaningful shot on goal coming 24 minutes into play. Stratford got some momentum back with 15 minutes left in the half, but a dubious offside call put a stop to the effort. After that Brazoswood began to press the advantage, but the Stratford defense prevented any scores with a good individual defensive play by Nathan Siciliano and solid goal keeping by Alex Guitierrez. Brazoswood had a number of close-in chances that were deflected or stopped. Stratford had a few runs at the opponent’s goal as the half winded down but was not able to connect leaving the score 0 – 0.

Play in the second half was balanced with each team making runs at each other’s goals but neither was able to scratch out an advantage. Milan Jokic made a nice pass to center early on but the Stratford shot was wide. Milan also was able to get off a shot 20 minutes in after a strong individual performance working the ball through the Brazoswood defense. Patrick Johnston was also able to get off a shot with his own ball handling to a scoring opportunity, but it was for naught. With 13 minutes left in the half Will Emerson was able to make deep penetration on the right side off a Stratford free kick. He was able to make a nice pass to Milan Jokic. But Milan’s shot did not connect and Brazoswood was able to clear after the ball bounced off offensive and defensive legs in front of the goal. It looked extremely rocky for the Stratford 11 with 8 minutes left to play. Brazoswood was able to score off a corner kick that unceremoniously made it all the way to the back post for a Brazoswood player to deflect into the goal. Stratford almost evened the score a minute later as Francies Galdino made a quick countering run on the right side, but his shot was stopped by a great save by the Brazoswood goalie. In turn, Brazoswood had two heart stopping chances that Nick Hay, now in goal, was able to stop. But Stratford was not destined to go the way of Mudville, as with just 2 minutes left, Nathan Purvis was able to even the score after a penetration on the right side leaving the game 1 – 1 at the close.

Stratford hosted Lamar High School on January 2nd for the first pre-season game on a balmy overcast afternoon with no wind. At the beginning, Lamar was able to maintain a distinct possession advantage. It was not until 8 minutes in that Stratford was able to make their first meaningful incursion into the Lamar end. Francies Galdino provided the main offensive action with a shot at 9 minutes that the goalie saved. Francies was back at 13 minutes in with a breakaway on the right side. As the goalie came out to meet him, Francies lifted a shot over the goalie, but the ball struck the top cross bar of the goal going out for a goal kick. Fortunately a few minutes later, Sam Cohen took a pass that left him wide open on the left side of the field. Sam took the touch to position the ball, lined up the shot, painted a water color of the view and arched a beautiful kick into the upper right corner of the goal to put Stratford ahead 1 – 0. The remainder of the half saw a balance of offensive possession by each team. Stratford was able to keep Lamar scoreless by great momentum killing defensive plays by Patrick Ndaye and Edmond Ndaye. Francies continued to provide the main offensive play using his speed. He made one run off a steal by Will Emerson but was caught offside in one case and was thwarted by a great save by the Lamar goalie in another.

Lamar came out quickly in the second half with three shots or opportunities in the first 3 minutes. But the shots were wide and a hand ball in front of the Stratford goal killed the opportunity. For the next 15 minutes Stratford made a number of offensive runs that did not have success. Francies Galdino got free on the right side, but his shot was wide. Three minutes later Tommaso Maule had a wide shot off a good centering pass. Will Emerson had a break for a one on one opportunity with the goalie, but the goalie made the stop. Francies made a great individual effort to bring the ball deep into Lamar territory. The ball went out for a Stratford corner kick but the resulting header shot was wide right. Lamar had their own opportunities such as a corner kick with that Hamdan Al-Tuma headed clear. And Nick Hay made a nice save of a shot by a Lamar player that slipped behind the defense. Unfortunately, with 20 minutes left to play Lamar had free kick that hit the goal cross bar and field goal bar after being deflected by Alex Gutierrez. This resulted in a Lamar corner kick that a Lamar player headed into the goal over the outstretched hand of Alex. For the balance of the half, Lamar seemingly invigorated by their tying goal, pressed the Stratford defense. But individual defensive play by Nathan Siciliano, breaking up a Lamar run and continued strong goal defending by Alex kept the score tied to the end.

The second preseason game on January 3rd at Seven Lakes High School found a clear night with a light cross field breeze that had no impact on play. Stratford played to an advantage of possession in the first part of the game. The team managed to earn a corner kick at two minutes in that the Seven Lakes goalie picked off and got another corner 9 minutes later that was cleared. But that first action was not to be the theme of the game as Seven Lakes got their act together and had a clear advantage on possession for the remainder of the half. Seven Lakes seemed to have a better rhythm on the artificial turf of their home field. A quick physical team to begin with, they were able to keep the ball closer to their feet when receiving passes. And they had a lower percentage of errant passes compared to Stratford. With that Seven Lakes managed two goals in the half while keeping the Spartans scoreless. This is not to say that Stratford lost any intensity through the half. The Spartans managed some good saves by Nick Hay and shots by Tommaso Maule and Jack Manke, the latter a heartbreaker as it hit the goal cross bar.

The second half saw Seven Lakes continue to extend its dominance on possession, but the Stratford defense stiffened only allowing one more goal with about 15 minutes left in the game. Seven Lakes physical level of play only intensified as the referee declined to call fouls except for the most egregious encounters. Despite the tilt of play, Stratford managed a number of notable individual plays that helped keep Seven Lakes in check. Sam Cohen made a great one on one play using his body to take the ball from an opponent and Nathan Siciliano made a nice play to break up a Seven Lakes run. Francies Galdino pulled off a nice individual effort on the right side to get off a shot, but the goalie was well positioned for the stop. Alex Gutierrez made a couple nice saves off opponents shots. The game ended with a 3 – 0 Seven Lakes win.