vs. Cy Ridge

The JV-A Spartans started off the week against Cy Ridge with a loss of 3-1. Cy Ridge was quick to score in the first 10 min of the game by defeating our defensive line. Brendan Storey had the first opportunity to score for the Spartans, but it was saved by the keeper. Soon to follow, Oliver Burdick took a corner kick and connected to Lorenzo Maule with a header, but the Cy Ridge keeper was able to get his hands on it. Cy Ridge continued to apply pressure to our defensive line and were able to score again in the middle of the first half to put them at a 2-0 lead. The Spartans had another goal-scoring opportunity with a cross from Julio Garcia to Lorenzo Maule with a volley into the goal, but it was called back for offsides. With just 1 min left in the half, Oliver Burdick drilled a perfect cross to the back post and once again connected with Lorenzo Maule for a beautiful header into the goal.

The second half began with Oliver Burdick taking a half-volley shot from 35 yards out, but it was just off of left post. Stratford continued to have many scoring opportunities, but just couldn't make it happen. They continued to put pressure, but in the end Cy Ridge was able to push through our defensive line one more time for a final score of 3-1.

vs. Memorial

“The Battle of I-10” had all the elements to warm up the freezing temps we experienced as the JV-A Boys took the field to face archrivals Memorial as the sun set over Tully Stadium. Coming from 2 losses in the Division, a win against the Mustangs was a perfect ingredient to head off to Super Bowl weekend.

The game started with Memorial showing greater desire to win 50-50 balls and every single ball in the air. But the 1st opportunity was ours, with a wide shot from #20 Alimas Ndaye after a pass from #16 Theo Birgirimana. It didn't take long for Memorial to respond with a fast break that #11 Timothy Muchira was able to stop on the right side. Stratford responded with a combination play with #5 Lorenzo Maule and #12 Brendan Storey, but the shot was wide and didn’t pose any danger to the Memorial goalkeeper. We kept the pressure up and earned our 1st corner kick after #16 Theo Birgirimana dribbled down the right wing and Memorial D knocked out. # 3 Oliver Burdick crossed it in, but no player showed up on the far post, and the ball bounced out of bounds. Memorial responded with their own corner kick after a quick breakthrough, but goalkeeper # 1 Yovanny Rodriguez scooped it up easily. At this point, with 15 min remaining in the 1st half, Memorial controlled most actions in the middle of the field while Stratford looked disjointed. A Memorial free kick from 20 yards out was saved by # 1 Yovanny Rodriguez, and Memorial kept the pressure up. Stratford lacked possession and tendency to hold on to the ball for too long – a constant in the last 3 games from the Spartans – and that didn’t help create any real opportunity to score. Leading to the final 10 minutes of the game, a lost possession on the Stratford half allowed Memorial to take advantage with a fast-break and a 1-on-1, and they capitalized on the opportunity to score. The half ended as it started, with Memorial applying pressure in the middle and winning most of the 50-50 balls and the air game.

Stratford got the 1st opportunity of the 2nd half with a free kick from 35 yards out that #6 Dawson Burgett took, and the Memorial keeper was able to secure. Memorial responded with a free kick on their own from 25 yards out that # 0 Pablo Reyes saved. A combination play with #10 Ricky Estrada and #5 Lorenzo Maule led to a shot from # 20 Alimas Ndaye that came close to capitalizing and scoring the tying goal. Memorial responded with a fast-break; however, the referee saw a handball inside the box from Stratford and called an inexistent penalty kick. Fortunately, #0 Pablo Reyes dove to the right side to stop what would be Memorial's 2nd goal. What a save!!!! It brought a jolt of energy to Stratford. # 5 Lorenzo Maule got fouled right in the middle of the field 30 yards out, but his free kick sailed up and didn’t offer any danger to the Memorial goal. The game continued with high intensity and Stratford fighting to tie the game, however, as seen in the 1st half, our players tended to take matters in their own “feet” and continued to hold on to the ball for too long, disrupting any chance to explore the Memorial back line. Halfway thru the 2nd half, on a rare combination play with # 3 Oliver Burdick and # 10 Ricky Estrada, #3 Oliver Burdick got to the side and sent the ball to the box where #5 Lorenzo Maule knocked it in and scored the tying goal for Stratford. Excitement soon turned to disbelief as the flag went up and an offside was called, invalidating the Stratford goal.

Stratford kept the pressure up and #16 Theo Birgirimana dribbled in the wing, passed to #17 Daniel Ospina, who swung the ball wide to #9 Julio Garcia. A long, wide pass to #12 Brendan Storey on the corner post. He sent the ball to the box, and #5 Lorenzo Maule tapped it in for the 2nd time, giving Stratford the tying goal. However, the goal was invalidated as Stratford had 12 men on the field. What a heartbreak. The final minutes of the game were intense with both teams fighting hard, Memorial to put the game away with a 2nd goal and Stratford attacking to tie the game. On a couple of fast-breaks for Memorial, both #18 Noah Velarde and #6 Dawson Burgett won the challenge and kept the ball away from our box. The very last play of the game, as the clock was winding down, after a scramble in the side, the game ended with # 5 Lorenzo Maule in the box with 3 Memorial defenders surrounding him. A clear push from the back prompted the linesman to raise and swing the flag as the clock expired, a potential penalty kick to Stratford. Unfortunately, the referee decided to ignore his assistant and the game ended with another heartbreak.