MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The boys and girls soccer teams of Matthew C. Perry High School had brighter games to look forward to as the season changed and the heavy rain subsided.
With the weather on their side, M.C. Perry soccer teams were able bring their best efforts to play against schools from higher divisions than their own.
The Matthew C. Perry High School boys and girls soccer teams played games against Kinnick High School and Kumage High School at the M.C. Perry High School soccer field here April 2-3.
The boys of M.C. Perry High School played two games against Kinnick High School on Friday afternoon.
Even though M.C. Perry’s boys soccer team lost the first game 3-2, it came out victorious during the second game when it defeated Kinnick High School 2-0.
Three games between M.C. Perry High School’s girls team and Kinnick High School turned out a scoreless tie on Friday and Saturday.
During the last game on Saturday, M.C Perry suffered a 4-2 loss at the hands of Kumage High School.
Christopher Anderson, girls soccer team coach for M.C. Perry, said the team has done well in showing the girls can handle a game or two against a superior division.
“We are an A school meaning we are the smallest school,” said Anderson. “Kumage is an AA school, so to go up and to tie or even lose to these guys 1-0 is an accomplishment.”
“My first season, we would lose 12-0 or 8-0 continuously,” said Anderson. “These last few years, we’ve been very competitive.”
During the season, the girls team has been able to find ways in which they can improve in order to step up their game.
“It was a good effort overall, but I think there was some individual effort that we can improve upon,” said Kate Cutshall, captain and goal keeper for M.C. Perry girls team.
“We could have been tighter on our defense and worked up the ball a little more.”
The team wastes no time improving their techniques and getting the most they can out of their practices.
“We’re mostly working on passing and trying to get the ball up the field more,” said Ari Mocarski, team captain for M.C. Perry girls team. “That’s a big thing.”
M.C. Perry High School soccer teams have seen nothing but rainy days since the season began, making the weekend’s sunny weather a pleasant surprise.
Due to inclement wearther, the boys teams have had to cancel and postpone previous games.
“This season has been a little more wet than usual," said Cutshall. “The past couple of seasons here, we haven’t had that much rain, and when we did, it didn’t really affect us too bad. But this year, there’s just been downpour every weekend.”
Due to the rain, teams have had to put effort into ensuring their game play would not be affected.
“We were out here cleaning this field yesterday, so it was pretty bad,” said Cutshall.
“There was basically water all on one side of the field,” said Anderson. “They had to bring all of the water off the field yesterday and let it dry out enough today so that they could play.”
Games are slated to take place at M.C. Perry April 23 through 25. For more information about upcoming sports or events, call 253-5448.