Varsity boys soccer tied with Ruben S. Ayala 0-0 on Dec. 4, making their preseason score 1 win, 3 losses and one tie (1-3-1).
The Mustangs kicked off to start the game. Ayala dribbled up the field and took the first shot, but sophomore goalkeeper Frank Tang blocked it at the top left corner, preventing a goal. With the game in full swing, both sides fought over possession of the ball, with Walnut eventually getting a foul for sweep kicking the opponent, allowing Ayala to make a free kick, which Tang tapped out of bounds.
“One of their shots that was going to the top corner of the goal was a challenging shot to save. I had to jump very high and barely reached the ball and tipped it over the crossbar,” Tang said. “When I made three crucial saves it helped bring our morale up and empowered us to start pushing back against their constant pressure.”
As both teams exchanged plays, Walnut launched a counterattack. A long ball from Ayala was intercepted by midfielder junior Patrick Castro, who passed to defensive midfielder sophomore Nathan Sesma. Sesma went for a cross on the left wing, which was blocked by the opponent. Ayala made a successful long run and shot, but a left dive from Tang sent the ball out of bounds. Toward the end of the first half, Walnut struggled against Ayala’s defense, attempting to score but missing a shot. The first half ended two minutes early due to an injury on the opposing team.
“[Ayala] put a lot of pressure on us,” midfielder senior Scott Azpeitia said. “They did not give us time to pass the ball smoothly, causing us to rush the ball to one another. But as a team, I feel confident that we performed well against a strong opponent.”
In the second half, the intensity grew despite the score still being locked at 0-0. Ayala gained early possession of the ball, but Sesma prevented them from gaining more ground. After, a shot by striker junior Oscar Feria was blocked by Ayala’s goalie. The Bulldogs maintained pressure, trading possessions with Walnut. In the final minute, a series of passes led to Feria nearly scoring a header but missing a few feet wide, ending the game.
“We took up the challenge against Ayala, and in the end, we tied after a hard-fought game. Despite the ups and downs, we stood strong and we’re looking to continue to improve,” Feria said. “For the remainder of the season, we will put our time into practice to ensure we can [accomplish] our goals this season.”
