The 2024-2025 soccer seasons kick off with renewed energy. The girls are returning from a successful season last year, making it to round one of playoffs. The boys are returning with optimism after a rough year last year, losing many key players the year before.
Coach Matthew Markarian continues to coach JV and Varsity girls soccer while Jacob Bynum coaches JV and Varsity boys soccer. Markarian has been coaching soccer at Fresno Christian for 31 years. This is his seventh year teaching girls soccer, and he doesn’t think he’ll go back to coaching boys unless he has to.
“Last year obviously ended disappointing for us,” Markarian said. “We have valley championship aspirations and fell just short of that, but I don’t want to discount what the team did last year. They were very talented, and we played a lot of big schools.”
Meghan Connolly, ‘26, has attended FCS for three years and has been playing soccer since she was four years old. This year is the first year she is playing without her sister Emma Connolly. Meghan Connolly is stepping into a leader position playing forward.
“I feel like our teams were not as unified as one,” Connolly said. “I think this year just come together as one will help us be more successful this year.”
Bynum is confident in the boys’ team after a year of rebuilding.
”My favorite thing about coaching boys soccer is getting to know the boys and getting to walk them through life,”
Bynum said. “It’s not always about just teaching them soccer, it’s about teaching them to be respectful, responsible and how to work hard and build lasting friendships.”
Jackson Sullivan has gone to FCS since 6th grade and has been playing soccer four years at FCS and 10 years total. He would love for this season to be amazing for his first year playing in high school.
“Winning every game is optimistic at best, but I think at least having a winning record would be my ideal scenario for us and maybe make it to the first round of playoffs,” Sullivan said.
Go support both teams this season at one of their home or away games.
Boys Schedule:
- Nov. 19 vs Kingsburg
- Nov. 26 vs FCHS
- Dec. 2 @ Immanuel
- Dec. 5 vs CVCHS
- Dec. 6 @ Morro Bay
- Dec. 7 @ Coast Union
- Dec.10 vs Firebaugh
- Dec. 19 @ Orange Cove
- Dec. 20 vs Immanuel
- Jan. 3 vs Dos Palos
Girl Schedule:
- Dec. 3 @ San Joaquin Memorial
- Dec. 13 @ Pioneer Valley
- Dec. 14 @ Cabrillo
- Dec. 19 vs Kerman
- Jan. 7 @ Clovis West
- Jan. 10 vs Delano
- Jan. 14 vs Yosemite
- Jan. 21 vs Fowler
- Jan. 24 vs Liberty
- Jan. 31 vs Chowchilla
For more from The Feather go to Beloved soccer coach Sergio Venegas faces health challenges or FC boy’s basketball rebounds into the new season.
