On the night of Dec. 9, Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) boys soccer team took to the field against Del Sol High School in its final preseason match. In a hard-fought battle under the lights, the Dragons battled until the final whistle but fell 3-0.
Reflecting on the game, Coach Sam Valdez said, “We weren’t able to get on the scoreboard tonight, but we got very close with a couple [plays], and near the end we tired out, but very happy with the boys’ work ethic today.”
Del Sol opened with the kickoff and immediately pushed the Dragons onto the defensive. Kenshu Cullen ‘28 intercepted the pass, quickly looking upfield for a potential scoring opportunity, but settled for possession of the ball as both teams settled into the game.
Del Sol quickly looked to control the midfield, relying on three midfielders and two strikers. Foothill Tech quickly looked to counteract this, moving forward Asher Bayless ’26 to a midfield position, foreshadowing a battle in the midfield that would last the entire game.
After a brief possession by Foothill Tech, Del Sol pressed hard against the Dragons’ back line, but the Dragons stayed strong. Goalkeeper Jordan Lacson ‘28 sprang into action with several diving saves that kept the Dragons alive early. As play continued, Foothill Tech struggled to maintain possession under relentless pressure.
Although Foothill managed several shots in the first 15 minutes, none found the net, keeping the score tied at 0-0. After a missed attempt by Bayless barely hit the crossbar, Del Sol countered swiftly and converted a cross to take a 1-0 lead.
Foothill Tech tried to respond on the ensuing kickoff after Gavin Leedy ’26 made a run down the line, but Del Sol’s strong defense denied any clear chances. By halftime, the Dragons’ only opportunity came from a single corner kick.
Starting the second half with the ball, Foothill Tech faced immediate pressure once again. The Dragons immediately looked to the offense to attempt to even the score, but an unlucky interception by the Del Sol midfield prevented any immediate opportunities.
Del Sol steadily increased their pressure, and a cross caught the Foothill defense off guard, leaving them out of position, and a miscommunication put Del Sol up 2-0.
Following the restart, Bayless pushed forward with the ball but was stopped by a hard tackle from a Del Sol defender. He left the field limping with the support of his teammates, and the Dragons were forced to continue without one of their key attackers.
Just minutes after the loss of Bayless, an overcommitment by the offense of the Dragons left them exposed, and Del Sol exploited that weakness to take them up 3-0.
Although Foothill Tech mounted several offensive attempts as the clock ticked down, Del Sol’s defense proved too strong, and the final whistle confirmed a disappointing 3-0 loss.
Center back Abdul Yasir said, “I think the boys played the best we could tonight, we’ve improved in the last few [pre-season] games…we could have played more defensively, [communicated] louder, got some goals out there, but I think overall we played well.”
“The season’s long, we have had eight preseason games, another eight or nine games for [our] league…it has been a difficult road on purpose, preparing them for the next two months”, Coach Sam Valdez said
After this tough loss, the boys’ soccer team looks to bounce back at their home, Ventura College, against Westlake on Dec. 15.
