Boys' soccer has unstable pre-season but hopes to improve

Gregory BoehmStaff WriterBoys’ varsity soccer won 2-0 against Long Beach Poly in a preseason home game on Dec. 13 on Samo’s new athletic field.The game began slowly. Neither team scored at the start, although co-captain and forward Emmanuel Serrano made an attempt at goal that missed the left corner of the net only by inches.As soon as the second half of the game started the Samo team began to gain more momentum. A rebound off of a Samo corner bounced outside of the box right to Serrano. Off of a volley, Manny kicked the ball with his left foot sending it dipping into the back of the net just out of the keeper’s reach.“I was ready for a goal,” Serrano said. “I was holding it in and I unleashed it during this game.”Following Manny’s goal, senior forward Jesus Martinez scored a second goal for samo solidifying their lead.“It’s very nice to see them back from defeat.” team coach Serafin Rodriguez. “After defeat they either pick it up again or they keep losing, but the boys picked it up today.”On Dec. 15, two days after Samo's away game win against Crescenta Valley, boy's varsity soccer lost 1-0 to West Torrance High School in a home game on the Samo field.The game was neck and neck for all 90 minutes. Players were getting quite physical; yellow cards were given to Samo players Marco Tejada and Omar Sanchez.Following a handball against Samo inside the goal box, West Torrance got ready to take a penalty kick. Keeper Eric Stocker blocked it, but was scored on off of the rebound.Samo had lots of opportunities and shots on goal but were never able to capitalize."We had a pretty disappointing performance. They were a really scrappy and violent team and we just didn't match their energy and fight back. We just didn't put away our chances when we were in front of goal," senior midfielder Andrew Capron said.According to Rodriguez, Samo played West Torrance over the summer and had a very similar game in terms of violence, but they had tied that time. However, Samo soccer is still in its pre-season, so despite their loss they have their season ahead to improve their mistakes."We've got the South tournament coming up on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday," coach Rodriguez said. "And then we have two more pre-season games before the actual season."gboehm@thesamohi.com