Following an underwhelming 3-4 start to the year, the Cats desperately needed a momentum boost. Luckily, the team found their footing at the perfect time taking down cross-town rival B-CC in an overtime thriller, complimentary of senior striker Nico Cornejo’s hat-trick.
But WJ could not celebrate the big win just yet. The Cats would have their hands full when the Whitman Vikings, who were entering the contest with an undefeated 8-0 start, came to The Den to take on the Wildcats on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The result was a significant win that handed the expected state-champion Vikings their first loss of the year.
The match started out dead even, with neither team giving up any room on defense. Throughout the match, cracks started to show in the two defenses. A penalty kick for the Cats looked promising, but a diving save by Whitman’s keeper kept the game scoreless at the half.
The second half seemed to go more in the Viking’s favor as they kept possession, and were knocking on the door. Nevertheless, WJ’s goalkeeper junior Parker Lamoureux, with numerous diving saves, shutout Whitman and fueled the offense.
“We started to play as a team and it started with the B-CC game, taking down our rival,” Lamoureux said. “Then it carried into the Whitman game where we beat them for the first time under coach Guido.”
The match remained scoreless for three-fourths of the match. Both offenses had scoring chances, but just not enough to get it past the two talented keepers. This would change late in the second half when Cornejo, for the second consecutive game, snuck the go-ahead goal in the back of the net for the Cats’ game-winning goal.
“This win shows us that we have what it takes to beat anyone and we just have to keep playing the same way every game,” junior Quincy Hunter-Williams said.
This historic win has given the Cats a winning record once again at 5-4, while also providing a burst of energy and momentum that will be crucial to keeping the winning streak alive.