The Patriots set in motion a 4-1-1 record this season as they continue to execute textbook play, beating teams like Watkins Mill and Sherwood in an electric fashion.
After a competitive matchup against Bullis, which resulted in a 0-0 tie, the boys played Watkins Mill on Sept. 17. The Patriots squeezed out a 2-1 win with a penalty kick goal from senior Noah Friedman and a game winning goal by senior Alex Balian. The team reflected on the win and were happy with the outcome of the game. “Ballon d’or worthy performance by [Friedman],” sophomore Haim Mikowski said.
Following a tough 4-0 loss against Walter Johnson on Sept. 21, the team refocused their thinking for Sherwood. Their goal was to change how they played the ball and bring the focus toward the midfielders. “Our tactics vary game to game but we wanted to play the ball to the midfielders and have them take it up the field,” junior Aadi Chaudhari said.
With this strategy, the boys were successful in beating Sherwood on a rainy day with unforgiving muddy conditions. Sophomore Casen Linn assisted senior Toby Subiela with another game-winning goal with eight minutes remaining, which resulted in a final score of 2-1. “I was ecstatic when I scored. To be honest it wasn’t the greatest shot but all that matters is that it went in,” Subiela said.
Mikowski, the goalkeeper for the Patriots, has had an impressive start to the season so far. His job is not to just stop the ball; it is important for him to communicate with the other players on the field to keep them organized. “[I need to] talk to the team and especially my defense because I see the whole field and can organize [them] from the back,” Mikowski said.
In games like Walter Johnson, goal scoring is low. According to Subiela, the boys are going to have to take more risks to try to up their chances of scoring. Key players are going to have to force certain plays and eliminate stress when making these plays. “Ultimately it could take just one person to have the bravery to take a shot and score,” Subiela said.
The Patriots are already performing better this year than they were last year, as they ended with a 1-11 record, including playoffs, last year. They still have more games to be played, and they are trying to keep their focus in the right place. “We need to continue to keep our heads level, and not get distracted,” Chaudhari said.
The Patriots have had an exciting season so far and Subiela said he believes that the team being so positive has stemmed from their success. “When heads go down is when the quality of play goes down too, so we just have to stay positive,” Subiela said.
The Patriots next game is on Friday, Sept. 27 against Northwood at home followed by another game on Wednesday, Oct. 2, against John F Kennedy.
