Following a successful 4-2 win against Waconia Sept. 20, Park boys soccer had a tough time against New Prague Sept. 28. The team ended with a 1-0 loss after a tight game, but players and coaches said they were proud that they were able to gain momentum into the second half, and they know games will get more difficult nearing the end of the season.
Junior Gael Miteo said they had some scoring opportunities but couldn’t complete them.
“It was a pretty good game, first half, second half,” Miteo said. “We tried to score. I had a few shots missed, Elijah had a few shots missed. We had more shots our second half. It was a really tight game.”
Head coach Anson Opara said he was proud of the team for not giving up after New Prague took the lead.
“Seeing the guys be resilient after being down by one goal, not letting that get into their heads and how they played coming out in the second half,” Opara said. “That was amazing.”
Sophomore Owen Anklam said the team progressed throughout the game and hopes to bring more intensity in the future.
“We have to start out strong,” Anklam said. “The first half was rough but we really picked it up in the second half.”
According to Opara, as the season comes to an end and sections approaches, teams begin getting more aggressive. He said the team needs to adjust and adapt to this extra challenge.
“Sometimes you have to learn that when it comes down to playoffs, it’s going to be really close and teams are going to be venomous, and they’re going to want to come after you so you have to learn,” Opara said. “It’s chippier, it’s harder, everything is a little bit more difficult.”
Miteo said although the game didn’t go as they were hoping it would, he has hopes for the end of the season and the future of the team.
“We actually fought for it at the end of the game and the beginning,” Miteo said. “It didn’t end well but we got next year.”
Boys soccer faces St. Paul Central next at 7 p.m. Oct. 3 at home.
