Thursday, September 22 marked the day that the Fossil Ridge High School boys varsity soccer team would lose their four game winning streak. The Sabercats were defeated 3-4 by Horizon High School at Fossil’s home turf.
Fossil started out with fire under their feet, scoring in the first 5 minutes of the game. Quincy Carlton hit a well struck shot at the top of the box that deflected off a Horizon defender into the back post. After taking a 1-0 lead, the Sabercats got comfortable and lowered their intensity, giving Horizon an opportunity to tie up the game. Horizon took advantage of that opportunity by scoring their first goal of the game within two minutes of Fossil’s goal, tying it up 1-1. Fossil’s opponent continues with their momentum, scoring another goal along the way pulling into the lead 1-2. The score stays 1-2 going into halftime with the Sabercats down one goal.
The second half begins with the level of aggression rising, drawing a lot of fouls from both teams. A PK is called off a bad call from the refs against Reese Wilson, allowing Horizon to get a penalty kick. They finish the PK, expanding their lead on the Sabercats to 1-3. Another PK is called in Horizon’s box, allowing the Sabercats to gain a penalty kick. Grant Martinez stepped up to take the PK and executed his shot closing the gap to 2-3.
After the two PKs were scored the possession was mostly held on Fossil’s offensive half. However, on one of Horizon’s transitions, they capitalize on a long ball across the whole field to an open player on the weak side who then carried the ball to the goal, shooting it into the back post past Logan Wette. The Sabercats were down 2-4 with 14 minutes left in the game. With hopes to get back into the game, Fossil applied heavy pressure on Horizon’s defensive line and were given several dangerous opportunities. With 35 seconds left in the game the Sabercats were given another dangerous set piece, a corner. Jaime Chavarria took the kick and played it into the box near the keeper who hit it into his own goal. The game ended with a final score of 3-4, a loss for the Sabercats that crushed their 4 game winning streak.
