Bela Orlova

Junior Mark Beilin battles for the ball against Menlo-Atherton senior Pietro Veccheirelli while trying to run down the field. The score was still 0-0, and Carlmont was desperate for a goal. The play was unsuccessful and neither team scored.

The Carlmont Scots varsity soccer team tied with Menlo-Atherton Bears in an even match, maintaining a 0-0 score on Friday, Jan. 23.

Throughout the game, neither team scored, and possession was evenly split between the Bears and the Scots. Carlmont picked up the intensity in the second half, putting pressure on the Bears’ backline.

“We were a new team pretty much, because last year was all seniors, so we were still learning,” said Bears goalie Torry Franz.

Both teams had a different mindset walking into the match. Carlmont head coach Ryan Freeman was confident in the team’s unity and ability to perform, despite a tough game the previous week, when they lost 1-0 to the Sequoia Ravens.

“Last game definitely didn’t go as well as we would’ve liked, but I think we have a good mindset coming off of that to reset and make adjustments. I definitely like our chances,” Freeman said.

The Bears have been undefeated so far this season. Unlike the Scots, though, according to their coach Brian Mansell, they went into the match with cautious expectations.

“We are cautiously confident, not super strong, so we don’t know what to expect. We’re still undefeated, though we have tied three games,” Mansell said.

The game started out uneventfully, with the only notable moments being Carlmont’s center back, Colin Delaney, getting a yellow card during the last 10 minutes of the first half, and Jamison Elliot, Carlmont’s goalie, making a save to keep the game tied.

As for the second half, Elliot mistakenly passed the ball to the opposing team. With the Bears taking their shots, he was forced to make a double save, blocking both the initial shot and the rebound, saving the game and forcing a tie.

“I didn’t see the second guy because he was right behind the strikers, so I thought that I could just bend it around the striker to call in whoever’s on my right,” Elliot said.

Although it was a tie, Mansell had anticipated this ending, so it was not a surprise to their team, and they were happy to maintain their undefeated streak.

“We have, I think, the best goalkeeper in the league, and we have a very strong defense, so we don’t concede a lot of goals. We just don’t score a lot, so don’t be surprised if it’s a 1-0 or 0-0 game,” Mansell said.

Gallery • 7 Photos

Bela Orlova

Carlmont goalkeeper Jamison Elliot gets ahold of the ball after intercepting a goal attempt. Menlo-Atherton players surrounded him, trying to force a mistake. Elliot was successful, and the Bears did not score.