Tripp Garrish

Kai Yoshida, a sophomore, closes in on the ball handler for Sequoia.

The Carlmont JV soccer team was unable to complete a late comeback against Sequoia in a game that meant more than usual.

Many of the players on both sides have known each other for many years from prior schools and club soccer teams, so the stakes were high.

“I know a lot of players on the Sequoia team. Most of them are childhood friends which definitely made the game more intense. A lot was riding on that game, including bragging rights,” said Jack Villagrand, a sophomore.

The added intensity didn’t bode well for the Scots, as Sequoia defeated them 2-1. Though the game started off evenly, the Ravens scored first with 15 minutes left in the first half. Sequoia then grew their lead after a stellar goal off of a free-kick. Then, with 30 seconds left in regulation, Zach Plemons, a sophomore, found the back of the net to put Carlmont on the board.

“We finally broke through and scored the goal. It really gave us hope that we could tie up the game in the final few minutes,” said Dharan Ebadi, a freshman.

The late surge didn’t prove to be enough, as the Ravens secured the ball as time expired after a last-ditch corner kick attempt from sophomore Max Klarr. Though the Scots fought hard in the closing minutes, their sloppy play, especially in the first half, cost them the game.

“Our mistakes during the first half really killed us. We dug ourselves into a hole and weren’t able to get out of it. But I credit Sequoia because they played hard and it was a struggle for us to match their intensity,” Plemons said.

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Tripp Garrish

With pressure from defenders coming, Jack Villagrand, a sophomore, tries to escape down the sideline.

Friendships will be put aside, once again, when Carlmont faces off against Sequoia in their last game of the season in February. The team has already started preparing for redemption and bragging rights for the year.

“We just have to play our style and not fall into their tempo. We are also going to go into the game motivated and ready to fight,” Villagrand said.

After one day of practice, the team will be back on the pitch on Friday, Jan. 24, at Hillsdale High School.