Even with only 9 players, the 7th/8th grade refuses to lose, wins

Even with only 9 players, the 7th/8th grade soccer team did whatever it took to get a win in their regular season finale.

Playing without four players, who were inexcusably absent from the soccer field Saturday afternoon, the boys shutout their opponent 1-0 and secured the third seed in their division.

"They were able to buckle down and ignore the fact they had less players," said coach Derek Kwong. "Come game time, they were ready." 

Christian and Moises broke through in the 2nd quarter when Christian passed a ball to Moises, setting him up for a breakaway chance against the goalie. Moises came through and planted  the ball into the net for his 4th goal of the year, giving the 7th/8th graders a 1-0 lead, a lead they would never relinquish. 

Knowing they only had 9 players, the 7th/8th grade played a defensive game the rest of the way, clogging the defensive zone and not giving the other team any room to operate.

Their defense went into a complete shell in the 4th quarter, defending countless throw-ins in their own zone, and several corner kicks.

But the defenders such as Aaron, Brendan, Luis and Tyler, all won the little battles that needed to be had, and the 7th/8th grade came out on top.

Julian was in goal and recorded his first career shutout.

At (3-3-2), the 7th/8th grade will play the second seeded team in their division, which has still yet to be determined.

If all the right things fall into place, they will go up against a team which they tied against 4-4 just a few weeks ago. 

But they can't get away with only having the bare minimum and they'll need the strength of their entire team to get to the championship.

After three years of listless soccer, St. Mary's soccer teams have now made the playoffs in two consecutive years, an astonishing accomplishment.

This team lost its first two games and it had the makings of another ugly season out on the grass, or turf, but the team eventually started to click and they've played some real good soccer throughout the latter stages of the season.

Now it's onto the final four, where it's anybody's ballgame.

For a championship, it will take just two good ones.