The Boys’ Soccer team is all smiles after one of the most successful seasons in years.
photo by Rebecca Holt
The leaves were brown, the skies were gray, and the playoff atmosphere was at its peak. Despite receiving a surprisingly low 31 seed in the bracket, Head Coach Jon Poole kept his head high in anticipation for the postseason, “I’m not too happy about how they seeded us; we deserved better, and we are going to prove ourselves,” Poole said.
The squad was matched up against the number two ranked team in the state, the Jefferson County League Champion Wheat Ridge Farmers. This would be a very mighty challenge for the Spartans, and a way to prove their worth and show up the bracket makers. The soccer boys not only proved themselves, but they sent fear into the eyes of the seemingly cocky and overconfident Farmer team. The Spartans finished the first half tied at one goal apiece, due to a gorgeous score from foreign exchange student Junior Alex Tiakas. “Thanks to a beautiful pass from my teammate I was set up with an easy goal. It was amazing,” said Tiakas.
The second half contained just the same amount of intensity, as the boys jogged out of the locker room and into a sea of silenced and shocked Farmer fans. The Spartans took advantage of every opportunity as the confidence of the players in blue and yellow grew smaller by the minute. The clock kept on ticking under the lights of beautiful Lakewood Memorial Stadium. A light drizzle began to fall from the dark sky, as players struggled to keep their footing. With the half coming to an end, both teams expected and hoped for overtime. It had become a defensive struggle until Junior Corey Rowe scored a quick, transition goal with seven minutes left. The crowd erupted in cheers, and the Spartans were ecstatic; they could just smell a victory.
Sadly, the Farmers’ star forward put in a quick left-footed goal just minutes later to tie up the game at two apiece. The boys were stunned, but they wouldn’t drop their heads as they fought hard to the end.
“Overtime, with the second best team in the state? What else could we ask for?” said senior Goalkeeper Chris Needham, who had a sensational game in the net. The Spartans came out and looked drained after playing two full halves to their utmost ability: the energy was gone. In minutes the Farmers capitalized and scored the dagger, a transition goal to seal the deal. The Boys were stunned, but nonetheless cried bittersweet tears of joy as a fantastic season came to an end. Senior Tommy Moehlman stated these words of wisdom in the final huddle: “This is a team, and a season I will never forget for the rest of my life.”
