Warriors Demonstrate Effort and Unity in Chapel Match

Caption: A promotional post on the PACA Instagram page on the day before the game. [provided by PACA office of advancement]

by Isabella Bruniera

On Tuesday, September 23, the PACA boys’ soccer team faced the Chapel Trojans in an away match that ended in a close 1–0 defeat. Regardless of the result, the Warriors Varsity boys team displayed strong teamwork, discipline, and resilience throughout the game.

From the beginning of the game, PACA worked hard to follow a strict tactical plan set by their coach, which was to pressure Chapel into making mistakes. According to PACA defender, Rafael Portella, the team managed the pressure best through key communication with each other. 

“One of the ways our team handles pressure is through communication,” said Rafael Portella. “The more we communicate, the easier it is to get through these difficult moments and figure out solutions.”

The Warriors remained well-organized and built up several good chances to score. One moment, in particular, stood out to Portella.

“We quickly worked the ball through the left and got great chances,” he recalled. “Sadly, the goalie defended the kick, but I still think this play showed us a bit of our potential when playing.”

Still, the Warriors faced some tough moments when yellow cards challenged the game strategy and gave Chapel the chance to score the winning goal.

Midfielder Benjamin Hatcher found that his solid playing skills were affected by bad decisions made during the game. 

“I think I performed well during this match against Chapel. I believe it was one of my best games and a game that I truly played for the team,” said Hatcher. “One thing I would have done differently would be to try to avoid getting my first yellow card during the first half, and that ultimately caused our team to suffer a goal.”

As time passed, the players got tired and it became harder to keep up their energy during their offensive plays.

“One of the key moments during this game that caused our team to struggle was during the tail end of the game when we started getting tired,” Hatcher explained. “Because of this, I think our team dropped the intensity we had at the start, and we committed silly mistakes that would not have happened if we were not as fatigued.”

Even with the defeat, the Warriors are determined to grow from this experience.

“One of the things our team will definitely strive to improve is our decision-making on the pitch,” Hatcher said. “If we improve this aspect, these mistakes will happen less often, and our overall team play will be better altogether.”

Although the 1–0 away loss was challenging, the game against Chapel highlighted PACA’s progress and unity. With stronger communication, smarter decisions, and continued teamwork, the Warriors will be ready to come back stronger in their upcoming games.