On Monday, October 14th, the JV soccer team played against Iglesia de Cristo at Bautista as part of the Bautista Cup.
After all players took the field, the whistle blew, and the game was underway. A swift turnover led to Samuel Vado’s early shot on goal, giving Iglesia de Cristo’s goalkeeper a hard save. Though unsuccessful, Samuel’s shot boosted the team’s confidence, and they continued to push for possession. Eventually, Iglesia de Cristo got a clean cross into the box, resulting in an unlucky own goal by an Eagles player.
With an unbroken spirit, NCA’s boys pushed for a goal. After a beautiful play into the enemy team’s box, Eagles striker Diego Hernandez was thrown down by one of the opposition’s defenders. Despite what appeared an obvious foul, NCA’s dreams of a penalty were shattered when the referee dismissed the incident. Soon after, Iglesia de Cristo got a magnificent cross into the box which resulted in a volley goal. At halftime, the score sat at 2-0 in favor of Iglesia de Cristo.
After an inspiring pep talk at halftime, the Eagles leapt back into action more fierce than ever. The opposition quickly sent a shot towards goal, resulting in the accidental own goal by an Eagles defender, making the score 3-0. Just as hope seemed lost, Eagles winger Ronald Hernandez sent an extraordinary cross into the opposition box. Samuel Vado met the cross with a powerful shot, finding the back of the net. Samuel’s goal ignited the fire in the JV squad’s hearts, and they were hungry for more. After skillfully receiving the ball, Samuel managed to dribble into the opposing team’s box and tuck away another goal. The score was now 3-2, and NCA’s boys were laser-focused on another goal, but Iglesia de Cristo was also determined. A smooth pass slipped through the Eagles’ defense, resulting in an easy tap-in. With only a few minutes on the clock, the JV team continued to fight.
As the final whistle blew, both teams lined up to shake hands. Even after an impressive comeback and valiant effort from all JV players, they walked off the pitch defeated 4-2. While it wasn’t the result the Eagles wanted, it was a major improvement from their previous match. Let’s go, Eagles!