Boys soccer ahead of schedule

Young team tied for first with four games left

%28NICK+PROVENCAL%2FEYE+OF+THE+TIGER%29%0A%0ASenior+Max+Garbolino+takes+a+free+kick+in+RHS%E2%80%99s+game+against+the+Bella+Vista+Broncos.+Garbolino+is+a+part+of+a+returning+senior+class+that+has+helped+prepare+younger+players+for+the+varsity+level.

Bateman, James

(NICK PROVENCAL/EYE OF THE TIGER) Senior Max Garbolino takes a free kick in RHS’s game against the Bella Vista Broncos. Garbolino is a part of a returning senior class that has helped prepare younger players for the varsity level.

NATE LEMOS

Coming off of a conference winning season last year, the boys soccer team has continued to have great success in the CVC this season. The boys have a 6-1-2 record in league, and 10-6-2 record overall.

The Tigers are currently placed atop the Capital Valley Conference, and are currently tied with Cosumnes Oaks for first place. Senior Ryan Kwong discussed how, even though the team has had quite a bit of success, he and others were unsure of their future coming into the season and how the newcomers have played a huge role in their success thus far.

“Coming into the season there was not a lot of optimism. We lost a lot of our seniors, and most of them were starters,” Kwong said. “We have a ton of underclassmen on our team, and if not for them stepping up and playing big we would not be where we are now. Our two freshman starters – Gavin Mann and Jaden Chauhan – have played a huge role in our recent success.”

It did not take the new players long to adapt to the speed of varsity soccer, as the Tigers were able to defeat the preseason favorite, Cosumnes Oaks. The Tigers then went on a run in which they won four of their next five with the only loss coming at the Antelope Titans. During that stretch, the Tigers lead the CVC with 13 goals.

Leading the way for the Tigers’ league-leading offense has been junior Austin Wehner. Wehner currently is second in the CVC with 15 goals, good for at least one goal per game, and leads the

Tigers in both goals and assists. Wehner accredits his success to his close relationship with his teammates.

“I am close friends with a lot of guys on the team, and that tight bond has really been advantageous,” Wehner said. “It’s really beneficial when you know your teammates really well and can rely on them.”