It was a bittersweet home opener for the Amundsen Vikings boys soccer team.
The Vikings defeated the Prosser Falcons 1-0 Monday at Amundsen. The lone goal was scored 13 minutes into the first half by junior forward/midfielder Rudy Lemus, who had to then leave the game 11 minutes into the second half with a concussion/shoulder injury he suffered while attempting a bicycle kick.
“When he got up, we noticed that he wasn’t right,” said head coach Alex Perez. “He was wobbly when he was walking, and he hadn’t remembered what happened. That’s when we knew he had a concussion and we had to sit him down.”
Vikings goalkeeper Kevin Velasquez recorded nine saves in his shutout, and the Vikings defense knew they had to play tight as well in the one-goal game.
“We were trying to pass the ball in the back, and try not to let the other team come in three-on-one,” said senior defender Juan Mendoza. “So we tried to open up and get the ball and pass it around so we could clear it and give it up to the forwards so they could score again.”
The first game of any season for a team may be a little hectic, but Mendoza knows that they’ll continue to get the feel for things and look even better in their upcoming games at home.
“The first game is always a little disorganized because you have new people,” he said. “Since so many seniors left (after last season), we’ve brought alot of people up. They’ve all contributed really well with the team, and that’s definitely a plus.”
