Sports

Celts boys soccer puts five on it

It took some time to break through the Sprague defense, but McNary boys soccer was able to solve the problem and continue their undefeated season.

The No. 4 Celtics (10-0, 5-0) came away with a 5-0 win at home against the Olympians (2-8-1, 0-5) Tuesday night. 

Initially, it took some time for the Celtics to break through the back end of the Olympians defense. 

With the defense loaded, McNary was unable to get their usual breakaway passes out to a runner, and were flagged for offsides multiple times in the first half. 

“When they have 10 players behind the ball it’s difficult to break,” McNary head coach Miguel Camarena said. “We weren’t ready. We didn’t create opportunities we need to create. A couple times we sent the long ball just to see what happens.”

But once they found an opening in the first half, the Celtics poured it on.

Freshman Fernando Zepeda opened the scoring with a open net goal after battling a defender downfield, and then spinning past the Sprague keeper. 

Less than two minutes, the Celtics were back on the scoreboard, this time from senior Hudson Brunk out in front of the goal.

“Those are the chances,” Camarena said. “When you see a team that has been defensively strong, as soon as you get one you want to go for the next one. You don’t want to give them a chance to think about it.” 

Brunk added two more goals in the second half to complete the hat-trick.

In the waning minutes, with a five-goal lead, Camarena and the Celtics didn’t let up, attacking and pushing the ball through the final two minutes of the game.

“Until the last second, the boys know that,” Camarena said. “You never stop running until the time’s up.”

The Celtics have now opened the season winning their first 10 matches.

“It’s nice to get a really solid start to the season,” Brunk said. “10-and-0 doesn’t come around very often. And to be able to sweep the conference first time around and hopefully do it a second time would be fantastic.” 

Brunk takes the leadership role he has seriously. He said his freshman year, while he didn’t play much, the leadership was lacking. He sees it as his and the other captains’ job to keep the team humble. 

“Going 10-and-0 we might get a little bit cocky,” Brunk said.

But for Brunk and the other captains, the goal is to keep the team focused on the end goal and the upcoming postseason. 

Camarena feels matches like the one against Sprague are perfect preparation for the postseason.

“Games like this, on paper should be an easy win, that’s the kind of things we use to get better for the playoffs,” Camarena said.