Boys off to 2-4-2 start to winter season
Nothing has come easily for the Jaguars in what has been a challenging start to the winter boys soccer season, but the team is showing signs of brighter things to come.
Windsor (2-4-2, 0-2-1) is fresh off of two frustrating road and home matches against Casa Grande and Concord, with only an overtime loss and a tie to show for their efforts.
“We’ve gotten off to a slow start this season, with most of our losses and draws coming in tight games, thanks to the skill and leadership built into our back line,” assistant coach John Richards reported. “But the foundation of experience is thin this year.”
Key returning veterans for the Jags are seniors Derek Neidlinger, Paul Bossard, Raymundo Duenas, Eric Arroyo, Sebastian Avalos, Carlos Canchola, Manuel Diaz, Olin Piotter and Junior Zach Perez.
The Jaguars traveled to Casa Grande for a battle in Petaluma on Dec. 15, with Windsor taking a 1-0 lead at the half. The Gauchos pulled even to send it into overtime knotted at 1-1, and scored the game-winner in the second of two 10-minute overtime periods to escape with a 2-1 victory.
On Saturday the Jags traveled to Martinez to take on Concord in a non-league match, again taking a 1-0 halftime lead. This one would end in a tie as the Minutemen scored in the second half to forge an eventual 1-1 tie.
“Last season, we had the luxury of playing 14 seniors on the squad, which helped us spring out of the gates, but this season is going to have a different pace,” Richards noted. “The bright new faces on the team will need to learn how to operate as a cohesive unit and play up to the demanding speed and physicality of the NBL.”
