The Briar Woods Boys’ Varsity Soccer team concluded a long, hard-fought season with a 1-0 loss to Independence on Tuesday, May 20, in the district quarterfinals. Independence senior David Garcia scored the lone goal, and while the Falcons were held without a shot on goal, their defensive line held firm against ten attempts from the Tigers in a tightly contested playoff match.
Head Coach Timothy Lucas reflected on the season, saying, “Every game has been competitive, and we’ve only been blown out in a couple of games, and those were against the best team in the district. It’s been one of those seasons where we’ve been unlucky, but the boys have put in their all, and the effort has been there, so I’m proud of them for the way they played and gave it their all.”
Though the results this season didn’t reflect the program’s recent success, having finished third in the district last year and earning the top spot three seasons ago, their young roster showed glimpses of strong potential. With several key seniors gone, a standout junior unavailable due to travel soccer, and a new head coach leading the program, the team spent much of the year rebuilding in real time. While the foundation may have shifted, the pieces for a comeback next season are clearly in place. With another year of experience behind them, the Falcons look ahead with determination and the drive to reclaim their place among the district’s top contenders.
“A lot of the other teams have been playing for four or five years together, so they know how to play with each other. This is our first year together, so a lot of us are still learning how to work as a team, but we’ve gotten better throughout the season,” mentioned junior midfielder Daniel Boci. “It’s been nice seeing us improve throughout the season, and how [as juniors], a lot of the younger guys on the team look up to us now because we’re the ones who set the expectations,” continued Boci.
“It’s been pretty difficult filling in the shoes of the seniors because those were big shoes to fill, especially with some of the defenders we lost,” said junior midfielder Brady Luhring. “I think that we’ve been working on our communication and leadership skills, and with more time, I think we’ll step into those roles,” Luhring concluded.
