Boys Varsity Soccer Prepares for EYL with Preseason Games

Redwood Boys Varsity Soccer has begun their season, following months of preparation.

By: Lucas de Lima

This Redwood Boys Varsity Soccer season has gotten off to a fast start. Through six games so far this season, their record is an even 2-2-2.

Before these games were played, the team underwent off-season workouts to prepare for the start of the season.

#28 Chase Saesee, ’27, says, “Our practices were very intense, very high level, very active, a lot of running, a lot of passing, a lot of finishing, just getting ready for the season.”

A large part of the preseason focused on cardio workouts to improve stamina. #11 Devin Calvo, ’27, says, “Before we even played we did a lot of conditioning to get fit and make sure we were game ready, and then as we started getting closer to the games, we started focusing on technical training, and more tactical team plays, to increase our chances of winning.”

The first two games of the season were played over Thanksgiving break against the Fresno Warriors on November 25th and the Clovis Cougars the following day. Both games ended as draws, 1-1 against the Warriors and 2-2 against the Cougars. Saesee assisted the goal against the Warriors, and #14 Cole Fontes, ’25, scored against the Cougars with Calvo getting an assist too.

On the first two games of the season, #14 Cole Fontes, ’25, says, “we played well, we just lost it towards the end. Our coach always preaches the first 10 and the last 10 of each game is always the most crucial, and that’s where we started to lose it when we were ahead.”

The Rangers were supposed to played their third game of the season at the Tulare Western Mustangs on Tuesday, December 3rd, but due to poor air quality levels, the game was cancelled.

On the sudden cancellation, Calvo says, “Everybody was devestated, because we waited throughout the whole day, we were ready to play. We had a meeting in the morning, and to travel all the way over there and not play sucked.”

Saesee says, “We feel really bummed because we’re looking to win all of our games. We’re looking for a good game against every team we play, and we really want to play every game as much as we can because for our seniors, not every game is guaranteed, so them losing out on those games is really hard on us.”

The Rangers then participated in the annual Harold S. Young Tournament in Clovis, named after the Englishman who spread youth soccer in the Central Valley in the 1960s and 70s.

Redwood played two games each on Friday, December 6th and Saturday the 7th, with their first game on Friday ending up being first win of the season over the Hoover Patriots, by the score of 4-0. Saesee scored a goal and assisted one in the win.

“That game, we just really dominated, in the defense, middle, forward. We were really complete that game. We played as a team, and we really got there,” says Saesee.

The last game on Friday and the first game of Saturday resulted in the first two losses of the season for the Rangers, losing 2-0 to the Golden West Trailblazers, and 2-0 to the San Joaquin Memorial Panthers.

Saesee says, “I felt like for those two games we were disorganized, we really didn’t communicate as well, we didn’t play together as a team.”

The Rangers ended the tournament with a win over the El Diamante Miners 2-1, with the two goals coming from Fontes, and Saesee earning an assist.

On ending the tournament with a win, Fontes says, “The game [against the Miners] went good. Our team finally seemed to warm-up. We were playing together as a team, we were passing the ball moving side to side, and we were finally attacking and putting away our chances.”

On the tournament as a whole, Saesee says, “It was a really good learning experience, it shows that we have to go 100% every game or else we won’t win, we just have to play our hardest, and play together as a team, and we’ll come out with good results.”

Coming away from the tournament, the team now has a better vision of what their strengths and weaknesses are so far this season.

On the weaknesses, Fontes says, “Just finishing our chances, because we had a lot of chances during the tournament. we were there, we just didn’t get them on target, or we hit them right to the keeper, so we just need to finish placing them and shooting earlier.”

On the strengths, Saesee, says, “I feel like we’re really bonded together, we’re really connected and we play really organized from our coach, and we’re good listeners, and we really try to take in what he teaches us.”

Calvo adds, “We have a lot of talent on the team, and a lot of players are motivated.”

The Rangers next game is at the Sanger Apaches @5PM at Tom Flores Stadium. Redwoods schedule includes one more home game against the Lindsay Cardinals on Tuesday, December 17th, before Winter break begins.

Fontes looks forward to the rest of the season. Fontes says, “I’m really looking forward to playing league one last time with this team that is now my family and trying to win it all. Finally beating Golden West is definitely one of our goals, shutting their streak down.”

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