The Blue Ridge Early College varsity soccer team defeated the Summit Bears high school team at home in the season opener on Aug. 25 with a final of 5-2.
Summit Auggie Stewart-Payne makes a diving save against BREC.
This was the first time BREC has played against Summit’s soccer team at the high school level. BREC CJ Jennings said it’s good to chalk up a win, but they have some things to work on before they start taking on larger 3A and 2A schools.
BREC Soriano Diaz makes his move with Summit Noah Becker right on his heels.
“We’ve got a tough schedule this season with some big schools coming up, but we’re going to be ready,” said Jennings. “We need to be tougher right out of the gate and work on our communication, but we haven’t come close to reaching our full potential.”
BREC CJ Jennings brings the ball down field under pressure from Summit.
BREC Michael Martinez said they played against Summit well but have a lot of things to improve upon.
“I don’t think we played to our full potential, we have so much more to grow,” said Martinez. “We have a strong group coming up this season, especially our freshman, and with some work we’ll be able to handle whatever is coming our way.”
BREC Isiah Palestino and Summit Barak Collins working for possession.
Several of Summit’s players on the high school team are middle schoolers, including 6th-grader Victoria Clement who scored a goal against the Bobcats and counts the day as a success.
Summit Victoria Clement goes for the header against BREC Soriano Diaz. Clement scored one goal against BREC.
“We went out there, worked hard, and did our best; overall it was a great day even with the loss,” said Clement.
Clement is new to the Summit squad and brings some experience from playing soccer out in California. She said had never seen the Bobcats play before, but had heard they were a tough team to beat.
BREC Levi Walters goes for a stop against Summit Benito Morales.
“They were skilled and fast on the field, there were some really great players out there,” said Clement. “They obviously have a good coach, you can tell that the way they play on the field.”
An airborne BREC Erick Puskarich going for a header against Summit.
Summit Taylor Robinson said it’s the start of a season and the bears will get better with more time on the field.
Summit Taylor Robinson keeps the pressure on BREC Levi Walters.
“I didn’t play great, but as a team we did pretty good,” said Robinson. “For a first game it wasn’t terrible, and I know we’ll get better. We just need to work on, well we need to work on everything, but we’ll get there.”
Summit Chance Wilson scores a one-timer against BREC Goalie Gustavo Morales Garcia.
BREC Jose Alvarez gets tricky with the ball as Summit Benito Morales charges in.
BREC Michael Martinez controls the ball before taking it down the field.
BREC Goalie Gustavo Morales Garcia sends the ball to the Summit side of the field.
Summit Noah Becker gets control of the ball and heads to ward BREC’s goal.
Despite a 5-2 loss to BREC, Summit Auggie Stewart-Payne was making diving saves all game. It could have been a lot worse.
BREC Isiah Palestino is focused on getting the ball out of BREC’s hot zone.
Neither BREC Michael Martinez or Summit Victoria Clement are close to giving up going for possession of the ball.
Summit Sid Sinclaire has some time bringing the ball down the field.
BREC CJ Jennings races down the field towards Summit’s goal.
BREC Levi Walters throws the ball in against Summit.
Summit Noah Becker throws himself in front of the ball against BREC.
BREC Michael Martinez sends the ball down the field against Summit.
Summit Chance Wilson heads the ball against BREC.
BREC Erick Puskarich takes the ball down the sideline under pressure from Summit.
Summit Wylie Hoffman under pressure from BREC Manny Magana.
Summit Benito Morales shows awesome sportsmanship and helps up BREC Ashtin Zachary.
Summit Chance Wilson looks at the media and points to Victoria Clement who just put one in the back of net for a goal against BREC.
Pictured at the top of the article is Summit Wylie Hoffman going for the ball while airborne and colliding with BREC CJ Jennings’ face.
Article and photos by Brian O’Shea
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