The boys soccer team advanced to the third round of playoffs, setting a new record for Emerson. They were three games away from the state championship, and although they unfortunately lost a very close match, this accomplishment was a result of all of the hard work and effort they put throughout the season.
On their road to this milestone they had a very successful year. This season consisted of lots of wins and new records set.
“We had a historic season, finishing with 20 wins and earning a playoff spot as third in our district. Our season ended in a third round against Bryan Adams side,” Varsity player Aaron Varquero, 12, said.
Since the team spent a lot of time together, they have shared some incredible memories while preparing for the season they will cherish forever.
“We did so much prep as a team before games, from dressing up for school, to eating together as a team, writing down our worries, yoga and praying,” Varsity player John Pacheco, 12, said.
The team not only worked together during practice but also used their close bonds to motivate each other. Although they were let down by a couple of losses, they managed to make a comeback.
“When we were losing in our first playoff game and lots of other games, we always stayed motivated by pushing each other and reminding us how hard we’ve worked to get here … no one brought others down after mistakes but instead kept encouraging them, which is how we stayed motivated under pressure,” Pacheco said.
The team’s strategy to comeback from their challenges was to trust their coaches. This led to a major change in their playing and scores during games.
“Coach Wessner moved me into a central defensive midfield role and pushed me to become a better ball-winning midfielder. That adjustment challenged me to improve defensively and technically, while also developing my soccer IQ and taking on more responsibility in protecting the back line,” Varquero said.
The team shared a lot of lasting highlights this year, and setting a new record was not the only memorable moment.
“When the whole team was only scoring bangers in practice in our small-sided games, in either our seven versus seven or our two versus three, some days everyone was scoring long shots, low driven shots [or] insane finesse shots. Even the keepers were scoring, which made those practices fun and memorable,” Vaquero said.
Although soccer’s journey was cut short, they still made a huge accomplishment and an unforgettable season that has been by far the best they have played in Maverick’s history. The team is so proud of their progress and wins, and they have grown close to each other throughout the process.
