In the rain and cold, the Menlo varsity boys soccer team defeated Woodside Priory 3-1 on Friday, Jan. 31, extending their winning streak to nine games.

An early score by Priory put Menlo on their toes, as a powerful free kick was put into the back of the net. This was an unconventional start for the team, as it was the first time they had been down a score in the league this season. Team captain and senior Gabriel Gil shared his mindset after the score. “We hadn’t gone down 1-0 in the league before, but I saw how calm the team was so it gave me confidence in my team’s ability to stay together,” Gil said.

Their persistence paid off when freshman Blake Putanec scored the equalizer, finishing a well-placed shot past Priory’s goalkeeper and putting Menlo on the board. With the momentum shifting, Menlo continued its offensive push and was rewarded again before halftime.

With 4:24 left in the half, Gil placed the ball perfectly past the goalkeeper from a corner kick by junior Reed Sunwoo. As spectators rose to their feet, Menlo attained a 2-1 lead heading into the break.

Throughout the second half, Menlo maintained control, keeping the ball on Priory’s side and limiting their offensive opportunities.

As the game entered its final minutes, Menlo remained aggressive, pushing forward rather than trying to conserve their lead. Although Priory had a great look, junior goalkeeper Dylan O’Malley came up with a crucial save to preserve the lead, denying Priory a chance to equalize.

Menlo sealed the victory with a final goal from senior Carter Techel, solidifying the team’s victory.

Moving forward, the team is optimistic for the future in the CCS playoffs, yet there is still room for growth. “There’s always room for improvement. No team is perfect, so we need to keep improving our game before CCS,” Gil said.