The NC boys varsity soccer team faced off against the Marietta Blue Devils on Tuesday, March 13. With a record of four wins and five losses this season, head coach Glenn Pannell hopes to reach the postseason state tournament this year. With only six games left, the team hopes for better outcomes approaching the end of the season.

“The upcoming games are pretty winnable if the team plays to their full potential,”  Coach Pannell said.

Marietta’s soccer team nearly grabbed an early lead with a counter attack in the first couple of minutes of the game. The Blue Devils attempted a goal as soon as the ball crossed the 20-yard line, where junior goalie Jorge Valdovinos managed to stop the ball from entering the goal. Despite a lack of team communication, NC dominated when it came to maintaining possession of the ball, pinging the ball far and wide across the field to their teammates. Marietta played hard and kept a strong defensive position, however, they could not manage to keep the ball in their possession.

NC attempted seven goals in the first half of the game, but only managed to score one, a headed effort from sophomore defender Blake Dosdos, giving NC a one goal lead before halftime.

Starting the second half strong, the Devils gained possession of the ball and moved it along the field in an attempt to score, but they could not break through NC’s defense. As NC gained possession of the ball again, junior midfielder Ben Schick attempted to score, but Marietta’s goalie blocked it, hitting it over to junior midfielder Bryan Estrada, who then made the goal. However, the goal failed to count as the ball left the field of play in the run in before the goal.

Sophomore defender Brian Morgan also attempted a shot in the remaining time of the game, but did not manage to score.

NC’s team, able to keep control of the ball in the last few seconds of the game, won 1-0, ending the game against the Marietta Blue Devils.