After an astounding 14-3-0 season last year, the boys of WJ soccer are carrying last fall’s tremendous momentum into this season. As with any high school sports team, the concern of filling gaps left by graduating seniors, in this case pivotal playmakers players like Giles Beven, is always inevitable. The seven open slots from last year’s graduated players were filled by the team’s 13 current seniors, making up half of this year’s total varsity squad. The abundance of seniority on the field has resulted in more experienced, well-rounded play due to the team’s tightly knit chemistry.

That ever-important chemistry for the Wildcats is especially abundant offensively. Now seniors, forwards Zion Friday and Justin Hahn both tied as the team’s leading goalscorers last season, with nine each. Jumping into this year with a commanding season opener on September 9, which resulted in a 7-1 win for the Cats at Clarksburg High School, both Friday and Hahn racked up an additional two goals each. The next evening at Bullis School, despite a challenging defensive effort from the opposition, WJ held on to pull ahead with a second half goal from Friday, solidifying the Cats’ first two games as wins.

After their dominant opening to the season, WJ was ranked in the nation’s top 50 high school teams, their 2-0-0 record earning them the 28th spot. Coming into their home opener with this impressive start, the boys claimed a forceful 3-1 victory over conference rival BCC High School. The win added another tally to Friday’s goals this season, as he leads the team with four thus far.

With their powerful, solid offense also comes a foundation of superb defense, as senior keeper David Goodstein looks to match his 59 saves from last season. WJ has only conceded four goals so far, with a 7-1-0 record including wins against High Point, 5-0, Gaithersburg, 4-0 and Whitman, 4-0. The WJ boys look to continue their early pursuit of a state championship in the coming games.