Strategic Shift Leads to Rams’ Convincing 3-0 Win

January 12, 2024

Thorne’s Goalkeeping Brilliance Highlights Rams’ Triumph

Earlier today, Your Cate Boy’s Soccer Team traveled down the 126 to face small school rivals Thacher. Knowing it would be their last of 2023 and preparing to head into the winter break, the Rams wanted to ensure we would bring home the W and ring the victory bell again this year.

The starting eleven consisted of Samuel Anum ’25, supported by Charlie Dorion ’26, Alex Gallegos ’26, and George Marin ’26 (filling in for an ailing player Thomas Paige ’24) in the backline. The three-man midfield was anchored by Ari Seal ’24 (who earned the player of the match), Uriel Beltran-Campuzano ’25, and Dimash Anuarbek ’26. The Ram attack comprises Nate Keshen ’24, Max DeVore ’25, and Kiy Barry ’26 (or, as I call them, the Twin Towers + 1).

Ari Seal ’24 earned the player of the match.

The kickoff took place on the Toad’s new soccer pitch, and as usual, your Rams took control of the game early on. The Toads were on their heels and treading water, trying to slow down the Ram’s offensive barrage. Your Rams created multiple scoring chances but were unable to cash any in. Midway through the 1st half, we began to disconnect and turn the ball over, giving the Toads a couple of scoring chances, but the ever-dependable backline was able to prevent any real threat. TJ Weir ’25 stepped onto the pitch in the 30th in an unfamiliar striker role and was able to provide a spark and reignite the Ram’s offense. The game remained a scoreless draw at halftime.

The second half began, and sensing that the guest of honor (a goal ) was about to make an appearance in this rivalry game,  the Rams continued to press the Thacher backline, and in the 50th minute, it paid off when Max was able to pick off a failed clearance by a Toad defender and slot the ball low and away to give your Rams a 1-0 lead. The host’s attempt to look for the equalizer backfired when they threw numbers forward and got caught in our counterattack when Samuel made a run from his defensive position, sprinted the length of the pitch, beating every opponent in the, and connected a beautiful give & go with TJ and poked the ball past the Toad keeper from an impossible angle to provide us with a 2-0 lead. Ten minutes later, Dimash rounded out the Ram’s scoring with an assist from Kiy to make the score 3-0. With just a few minutes to go in the game, the Toads were able to save face and prevent a home-field shutout and scored their only goal of the game.

Coach Mo & I are proud of the effort our entire squad put out today and, more importantly, the on-field adjustments our team made to regain control of the game in the second half and put the game away. We got some quality minutes off the bench today from Nico Huiner ’25, Mack Nieman ’25, TJ Weir ’25, and Oliver Charvel ’26. As we head into the winter break, we look forward to getting our injured players healthy and having an entire squad to make a run at first, another Tri-Valley league championship, and second, a 3rd Cate Boy’s Soccer CIF title.