On October 29th, the Foothill Men’s Soccer team resumed their season against Ohlone College. This was their 17th game of the season, currently with an 8-5-4 record. The Owls were ready to face their opponents and continue their fight as a team.
Beginning the game, a Foothill coach gave a pep talk to his players, setting an upbeat and positive tone for their game. Then was the first kickoff, putting the ball into play. Throughout the first half, possession was shared by both sides, giving both the team and the audience a very interesting game. Foothill then scored a goal, but it was ultimately overturned by the referee for blocking the goalkeeper.
After this, the tight game continued, until a goal was scored by #17 Sabe Brandon Wilson, breaking the tie. Foothill’s scoring continued through the first half, with another three goals scored by Wilson, #13 Taaran Chohan, and #18 Leo Janson. Within the first half as well came two yellow card bookings, one for each team. Despite the yellow card and assertive behavior from the Ohlone players, the men’s team kept on the pressure through the game. The second half was much tamer than the first, with no active goals, cards, or penalties. Foothill ended up with a victory, setting a good tone for the rest of the season.
During the halftime break, two women who were aunts of one of the Foothill players, when asked about what they think of community college sports, stated “We love it. We couldn’t ask for anything better and I’m so grateful that [my nephew] is at Foothill College because they have an amazing team, [and] amazing support group.”
That spirit of camaraderie was reflected in the team as well, as many watchers echoed during the game their admiration of how the Foothill men’s team is connected, both on the field and off. This sentiment of team sports in college being beneficial is shared with non-community college members as well, with the NCAA stating, “By competing in college sports, student-athletes learn important skills, like leadership, time management and how to effectively work with others toward a common goal” (NCAA). It is clear that the Men’s team understands the importance of leadership and teamwork.
Members of the Foothill Women’s Soccer team were also present, aiming to provide support and cheering for their counterparts during their game. They cheered for the men throughout the game, with uplifting statements such as “let’s go Foothill!” When asked why they came out to support, one of the players from the women’s team said, “I think that our whole team can agree that we enjoy having people like watching our games and supporting us. It really helps, like, the way we play.” The importance of showing up for others, whether it be your teammates or loved ones is evident during this game as the support uplifted the team to a strong 4-0 win.
Overall, the men’s team played a strong game with great team spirit and camaraderie. Despite their struggles with the assertive playstyle of Ohlone’s players, and the yellow card in the first half, the men delivered a strong performance, proving their ability to work together even in times of stress. Adding this win to their record, the Foothill Men’s Soccer team will look to continue building momentum throughout the rest of the season.