The boys soccer team defeated the Sequoia Ravens 2-0 on Friday night.
M-A started the game with strong defense from junior defenders Finn Doherty, Vincent Alastalo, and Elliot Keighery, who were quick to block multiple shots sent near the goal.
Soon after, senior defender and captain Nolan Kanevsky hit a quick header that moved the ball downfield, and a defensive block moments later interfered with a Ravens pass to help keep Sequoia off the scoreboard.
The game was fast-paced, with a series of back-and-forth possessions as both teams fought for control. At one point, a sloppy pass by the Bears led to a brief loss of possession, but the defense quickly recovered, applying pressure that forced Sequoia to kick the ball back to their own goalkeeper.
Five minutes into the first half, M-A made strides upfield, however, they were overpowered by the Ravens’ strong defense and were pushed out of bounds. Shortly after, senior forward Theo Leslie drove the ball forward, setting up senior forward Nico Lanza for a close-range shot, which unfortunately missed, leaving M-A scoreless.
Sequoia’s defense was able to hold strong, thwarting multiple scoring attempts from senior forward and captain Tomar Jacobs, including a missed free kick.
The Ravens were unable to score thanks to Doherty, and the Bears’ defense remained unfazed in the face of Sequoia’s offensive push. 15 minutes into the half, a close ball from Leslie to Lanza almost resulted in M-A’s first goal, but the Ravens’ defense cleared the danger.
The breakthrough by the Bears came with 23 minutes left in the first half, when Lanza was able to quickly maneuver past Sequoia’s defense. He fired a low shot past the goalkeeper, finding the back of the net to give the Bears a 1-0 lead. Capitalizing on this momentum, just two minutes later, a crucial kick from Alastalo flew past the Ravens’ goalkeeper, putting the Bears in a comfortable 2-0 lead.
“Our playmaking style and communication helped lead us to score early in the game,” senior midfielder Alan Vail said.
Sequoia’s attempts to respond were unsuccessful as M-A quickly asserted themselves with strong defense once again. As the half progressed, the game became more tactical, with both teams exchanging multiple possessions in the midfield.
Sequoia tried to respond, regaining possession with 18 minutes left in the half, but the Bears were once again able to successfully halt the counter.
Despite several more attempts at goal by M-A, including a swift steal by senior midfielder Saleem Hamzawi and a threatening cross by Doherty, the Ravens’ defense held firm. The half ended with the Bears continuing to take good shots, but Sequoia’s goalkeeper made key saves to keep the score at 2-0.
“This game, we had more control of the ball and kept the pressure on if we lost it,” Doherty said.
The Bears emerged from halftime with clear attacking intent, putting Sequoia under pressure early in the second half.
Junior midfielder Nico Melani was active immediately, testing the defense with a shot that went just wide of the goalpost three minutes into the half. Not long after, Alastalo shut down a dangerous through ball to prevent the Ravens from scoring.
M-A continued to attempt to score, as Melani assisted Jacobs with a cross, and after a quick layoff, Melani attempted another shot that was unfortunately blocked by the Sequoia defense.
Physical play followed, including a foul from Jacobs five minutes into the half. Both goalkeepers were forced into action, cutting off crosses at both ends.
Although the Ravens were down, their offense persisted, with a shot that sailed over the crossbar with 32 minutes left in the half and a free kick that, minutes later, was smoothly handled by the Bears. Despite Sequoia’s attempts, M-A remained disciplined, not giving Sequoia any opportunity to score at the start of the second half.
A dramatic moment came midway through the half, when the Bears’ junior goalkeeper Torry Franz was caught one-on-one with a Sequoia forward. After contact in the box, the referee awarded a penalty and gave the Bears a yellow card, forcing Franz to be substituted for Keighery.
With the pressure on, the Ravens stepped up to take the penalty but sent the shot high and wide to the right, sparking celebrations from M-A’s sideline.
With Keighery stepping in as the Bears’ emergency goalkeeper, play resumed with renewed intensity. Sequoia pressed forward, earning a corner kick after a strong save by M-A.
As the clock wound down, Sequoia advanced in search of a late goal, but the Bears responded with composed defending, highlighted by strong plays from Kanevsky and Alastalo, including a crucial slide tackle and several clearances under pressure.
“I think we were a lot more mature, definitely, limiting our mistakes, which took a lot of pressure off of us and made it easier to dominate,” Alastalo said.
In the final minutes, the Ravens launched dangerous balls into the box, including a late corner and a long throw-in, but the Bears’ defense held firm.
Despite Sequoia’s relentless late push, the Bears defended as a unit and closed out the match with a hard-earned shutout, showcasing resilience and teamwork. The final score was 2-0, a win for M-A.
The Bears will return to the field to face the Woodside Wildcats away on Wednesday at 4:30.
