We’re Halfway There: Boys Varsity Soccer Finishes First 5 Games of EYL

The Redwood Rangers Boys Varsity Soccer team has played the first five matches of their EYL season. Three players share their thoughts on the games so far and their outlook for the rest of the season.

By: Lucas de Lima

After 15 preseason games, the Redwood Rangers Boys Varsity Soccer team finally began their EYL (East Yosemite League) season.

Heading into EYL, #12 Hunter Vargas, ’27, said, “Before the first game we just came off a pretty good tournament, so we were feeling strong about this season. We were just hoping that we could start off strong with a very good Porterville team, and go from there and try to win every game.”

Redwood opened their 2025 EYL season with two matches in Porterville. The first game was on Tuesday, January 7th, against the Porterville Panthers, and ended in a 0-0 draw.

On the draw to open EYL, goalkeeper #1 Cutler Griswold, ’26, said, “That game was a good starting point for our team because Porterville had been a team that we always go at it with. So that game, especially in Porterville’s territory, to get a nil-nil draw was a good start.”

Two days later on Thursday, January, 9th, the Rangers would return to Porterville, this time playing the Monache Marauders. This game resulted in the first win of the EYL season, a 2-1 victory. The two goals came courtesy of #28 Chase Saesee, ’27, and #3 Josgar Guerrero, ’27, with assists from #19 Nathan Zetino, ’26, and #15 Sebastian Monti, ’28.

On getting the win against the Marauders, #21 Adam Judson, ’25, said, “That [was] really exciting. For two years in a row we lost at Monache, and that ruined our season, so it’s really good to get a win there.”

Redwood would host their first home fixture in EYL the following Wednesday, January 15th against the Golden West Trailblazers. The Rangers would fall 2-1 for their first defeat of the EYL campaign due to a stoppage-time goal from the Trailblazers. Redwoods lone goal came from Saesee assisted by #12 Hunter Vargas, ’27.

On the home loss to the Trailblazers, Griswold said, “That game was probably the best game we’ve played as a team, because everybody was in the same mindset. The ball was moving, and sometimes it just doesn’t roll your way, and that’s what happens.”

On Friday, January 17th, the El Diamante Miners came to the Mineral King Bowl to face Redwood, and the Rangers prevaild in a 2-0 victory. The goals were scored by Guerrero and #7 Sergio Flores, ’25. They were assisted by #10 Justin Jimenez, ’25, and Saesee.

On the shutout home win against the Miners, Vargas said, “We followed our game plan perfectly. We knew they were just going to try and boot the ball long. So we just sat back and defended well and then got them on the counterattack.”

This past Tuesday, January 21st, the Rangers travelled across the 198 to play the Mt. Whitney Pioneers. This matchup of the longtime rivals ended in a 1-1 draw, with #16 Adam Seechan, ’25, scoring a penalty goal.

On the draw away from home against the Pioneers, Judson said, “We need to put more points on the board. We were very dominant. It was just a rough one, we could not get away from the tie.”

Overall, there are many positive takeaways from the first five games of the EYL season.

“I’m happy with the focus, the energy, and the chemistry that we built as a group because last year I think we lacked that, and this year it’s a lot better and you can see it in the results.”

The team is looking to improve on “Getting goals, putting the games away early, and hanging on having fun,” says Judson.

Judson is looking beyond EYL when it comes to his goals for the season: “My goals don’t stop at EYL. Of course I want to win EYL, but my goals are really set on playoffs. I want to win Valley and go on further from that.”

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