The state championship title is still the goal for the boys soccer team as it finishes up its regular season and heads into the playoffs.
Although the team has seemed to lack intensity and focus, it believes it has the skill and talent to succeed.
“I think we need to remain focused on the things we need to do to perform in the game,” senior captain Matt Kramer said. “We need to get a little hungry and learn to play not only with our skill but also with our hearts.”
The Bulldogs have been inconsistent this season, losing to Walter Johnson 3-0, Oct. 18, Whitman 3-0, Oct. 3, and Wootton, 5-0, Oct. 11.
After Whitman scored a penalty kick in the first half of the game, the Bulldogs lost focus, allowing Whitman to score two more goals in the second half.
“After the second goal we let up and didn’t know how to react,” senior captain Crispin Muessle said. “The players got discouraged, and there was a lack of leadership.”
According to Kramer, the main problem is a “lapse in focus.”
However, the team shows signs of improvement, winning 3-2 against B-CC Oct. 9 and Richard Montgomery, 1-0, Oct. 18.
Senior captain Chris Rahimi thinks that the result from the B-CC game was a product of the teams focus and mentality.
“Our goals were from high pressure and intensity from the beginning of the match, setting the tone for the game,” Rahimi said.
The team also came out strong against Richard Montgomery, possessing the ball for a majority of the game. Junior Noel Purnell led the team to victory after he scored late in the second half.
The team won its last regular game of the season against Einstein, 5-3, Oct. 22.
The Bulldogs were tied 2-2 at half time, but in the first 15 minutes of the second half the team started to dominate the game, scoring three more goals to end the game with a two-goal lead.
“First half we weren’t connecting the passes, but then we started to work out off the ball and move dynamically,” Rahimi said.
According to coach Arnold Tarzy, the team is now preparing for playoffs by working on playing the ball away from pressure.
“I think we have improved in our team defense and have gotten better in playing harder as a team,” Tarzy said.
