Junior varsity boys’ soccer kicked off the season with a loss to Rockville Rams 2-1. Coming off a 1-1-1 record in last year’s spring season, they look to bounce back this year.  Returning players like sophomore Rishi Bandyopadhyay look to lead the team to a winning season.

Their first game of the season was on Sept. 9 against the Rockville Rams where they lost 2-1. Students and parents came to support the players. Despite this support from the crowd, the team could not pull off the win. “I felt like our team didn’t want it the way Rockville did. We didn’t contest balls in the air and worked for it. It improved throughout the game but we have to be working hard from the start,” freshman Noah Friedman said. 

This is Evan Hoppman’s first year coaching the boys and he is excited to lead this team to a great season. It can be difficult to coach at a new school with new kids but Hoppman said he is determined to take his team to the top. “Today was a tough game, but with the fight that we showed I am confident in the team,” Hoppman said.

Sophomore Kasra Dokhaee is having his first year of school soccer being a leader in the defense playing center back and center defensive mid. Defense can be a hard position as goals against the team are from defender or goalie mistakes, but Dokhaee is proving why he is fit to start in those positions. “I feel that we had a slow start, but we can definitely bounce back if we just put more effort into how we start the games,” Dokhaee said

Friedman is eager to provide many goals up-front for the team and to be a leader. “It’s really meaningful to me. Although I play for a club team as well, there is an added sense of pride when you’re representing your school,” Friedman said.

On September 14 the boys had a game against Quince Orchard where they lost 4-0. Players and coaches were not happy with the result, but the team showed improvement in an intense game vs Watkins Mill on Sept. 17 where they tied 3-3. The team is looking to give it they’re all on Sept. 23 against Northwest.