BOYS’ SOCCER SPORT SHORTS, 2011-12–
(For the previous game, check out the Boys’ soccer sport shorts: Alumni game. Scrimmages do not count toward win/loss record. Visit the Sports Section for boys’ soccer features).

Be sure to visit the 2011-12 boys’ soccer schedule, home page, or check out Maxpreps.com. FC is currently 0-0 in the West Sequoia League and 0-1 overall as of Nov. 29. The Eagles will next participate in the Sierra Tournament, and play Kingsburg and Chowchilla, Dec. 2.

BOYS’ SOCCER, 2011-12

SIERRA TOPS FC, 4-0–Nov. 29
To open up the 2011-12 season, the Eagles traveled to Tollhouse, home of the Sierra Chieftans, Nov. 29. Sierra had a lead of one, 1-0, until the final three minutes of the game where they punched in three more goals off of corner kicks to win, 4-0.

Transfer student from San Joaquin Memorial, JP Caprioglio, ’13, who plays central midfield and forward, says the pace of the game differs from that of Memorial, but still is glad he came to FC.

“At Memorial the pace was much faster, but that may be the outcome of much more experienced players,” Caprioglio said. “I still enjoy the students at FC as well as my team just as much as i did at Memorial.”

Caprioglio adds for their first game, he feels they have the ability to be a solid team, but it requires work.

“Although we lost our first game, I believe our team has potential to be great,” Caprioglio. “The improvements we need to make would be trying to be more aggressive. With this we would be much closer to being great.”

Although not new to the team, senior Mitch Weibert took on a different position for the Eagles: goalie.

“Playing goalie for the first time was a lot more fun than I thought it would be actually,” Weibert said. “I originally was nervous and worried about messing up, but once the game started I felt a lot more comfortable. It was a great test for me, and it helped me see what I still need to work and improve on.”

Head coach Matt Markarian agrees with Caprioglio as he also says they have the opportunity to excel this season.

“This team has a chance to be very special, but we need to continue to work on being patient and turning our opportunities to score into goals,” Markarian said. “The score did not reflect how even the game was. It was very close and the late goals came in mistakes because we were tired.”

The Eagles will next participate in the Sierra Tournament, and play Kingsburg and Chowchilla, Dec. 2.