Recap
Irvine, CA — In Foothill JV Soccer's first away appearance they headed to Beckman High School to try win their 2nd game in 2 days. It was questionable how fresh the legs would be with less than 24 hours rest since a commanding 10-0 win VS Century. The focus for the team was digging deeper and working harder to overcome the fatigue.
Expectedly the team came out with a more conserved start. Both teams seemed to take the starting minutes to ease into the game and size their opponent up on the pitch.
About 15 minutes in Foothill took a first swing with an excellently timed through ball out of the back to a streaking Juan Rodriguez who caught the whole defense flat footed. Two touches to the open field and it was an easy ball for Juan past the keeper to score. But, in an unusually late offsides call the goal was taken back bringing the score back to 0-0.
Undeterred by the officiating Foothill kept the pressure up with renewed energy. Minutes later Brock Chapman's offensive play out of the right back sent a beautiful diagonal cross deep into the box. Lincoln Luther found the other end and skillfully directed the ball into the goal with a high left footed volley. It was 1-0 Foothill going into half time.
With a narrow lead but some tired legs the 2nd unit was brought in to start the 2nd half and bring some fresh energy and different dynamic. With a back and forth few opening minutes, but an obvious boost in activity from Foothill their work paid off shortly with Lincoln Luther serving a corner kick in to find an accurate header from Garrett Zehner to put Foothill up 2-0.
From there Foothill was unstoppable. With a boost in confidence and keeping the gas on the pedal they showed excellent ball movement in all directions, well timed runs, constant effort off the ball to keep passing lanes open, and shut down defense.
On attacking run out of the 6 position Quinn Frye buried a cannon of a shot past an outstretched goalkeeper who was no match for Quinn's placement and power.
Brock Chapman tried his hand at the right wing position late game and showed his versatility scoring Foothills 4th goal leaving his defender in the dust attacking direct to goal with a rocket shot past the keep.
In a somewhat comical and confusing moment in the game, Goalkeeper Justin Banda was tasked with defending a PK awarded to Beckman. Foothill started to cheer and chant for "Banda, Banda, Banda!" to hype the young keeper. As the crowd quieted right before the PK was to be taken the ref came to the sideline and in something this soccer fan has never seen, pulled a red card out and showed it to a row of 15+ fans and to the Foothill coach for "taunting." Confused, the play went on and Banda made a layout out dive to the right post but the shot barely scored earning Beckman their sole goal. The red card was rescinded in error after the play. Final score 4-1 Foothill.
Shout out to Devin Orozco, Garrett Zehner, Rodrigo Gonzales, and Kevin Miyashiro for their help in earning the JV squad's impressive victory over Beckman!
GO FOOTHILL!!!