On Tuesday afternoon, the boys varsity soccer program headed west to face a strong Volcano Vista squad.

After their best win of the season Saturday against Cleveland, the team was riding an upward trend with hopes of succeeding in two tough games this week before starting district competition.

Maybe it was the series of tough games last week, the heat on the mesa, the quality of the Volcano Vista midfield, or the inconsistency of a team still looking to form a unit, but the game started lethargically. After resisting an early attack from Volcano Vista, the Academy squad seemed to find its footing. The game became a quick strike, back and forth footrace. Twenty-four minutes in, Volcano Vista passed around the defense and beat Yannick Schlenzig ’19 with a low shot to the corner. Four minutes later they scored again when a long cross skipped off a defensive head and left the attacker all alone on net. With just minutes left in the half, Taylor Jackson ’19 sent a long ball deep into Volcano Vista’s side of the field. Luca Jepsen ’19 raced past the defender and chipped a hard charging goalie. The half ended 2-1 but the Academy had been outplayed.

Hopes of a different second half were quickly dashed when Volcano Vista scored again in the second minute and then again in the 57^th minute. Along the way, the Academy had its moments. An Academy shot from close range that was stopped by a defender’s hand went uncalled and an open goal opportunity was wiped away by an unusual off-side call. The game tightened when Lucas struck again. Luke Jenkusky ’20 cornered a defender, stole the ball out from under his feet, dribbled the touch line, and slotted the ball to Lucas in front of the net. 4-2. As the clock wound down, the Academy threw numbers forward in an attempt to get back in the game and Volcano Vista struck one more time on a long ball the left the attacker one-on-one with Yannick.

The team doesn’t have much time to recover and respond with a match against St. Pius tomorrow.

The Academy Boys record is now 5-3-1.