Season II (Dec. 5 through Feb. 27)
Schedule
Standings (3-2-2, 11 pt, 5th Place Div. I)
Game 7 v. Sereno South White (T, 2-2)
Game 6 v. TMSFC Oro (L, 1-0)
98 Red gave up an early goal to Oro and were outplayed througout. Despite several chances, the boys could not find the back of the net and walked away with a 1-0 loss.
Game 5 v. SC del Sol McNaughton (W, 2-0)
98 Red charged to a 2-0 final in beating the del Sol "B" team. Goals were by Giovanni Ahumada and Brian Simpson.
Game 4 v. SC del Sol Armstrong (L, 3-2)
98 Red were much better prepared to face del Sol this time around. Skylar Decker scored the games first goal as the ball banged around in front of the net. GK Jason Zismann foiled del Sol’s first attempt, a blistering shot from 12 yards a few minutes later. However, he found himself slightly out of position on a corner shortly before half time and del Sol evened it up at 1-1 for the break.
Eight minutes into the second half, Jacob Zepp put 98 Red up 2-1, but del Sol struck back less than two minutes later on a floater over the head of the 98 Red keeper. They repeated the feat ten minutes later to take the lead for good. GK Zismann landed awkwardly after a jumping save attempt and was replaced with Anthony Negrete - his first appearance in goal. GK Negrete showed nerves of steel and thwarted two attempts by del Sol - one a sliding tackle at the corner of the penalty area. 98 Red could not find an equalizer and the game ended in a 3-2 loss.
Game 3 v. Scottsdale Blackhawks (T, 1-1)
The boys played an uninspiring first half and headed into the break down 1-0. Blackhawks broke down the defense midway through the period and scored against a diving GK Jason Zismann. Coach Cosgrove righted the team over the break, although it took 98 Red the better part of the second half to come alive. Hunter Myrdal scored at the back end of a pressured attack that saw at least 4 other 98 Red players attempt to net the ball. The passion flared up after the score, but neither team could break the tie before time expired.
98 Red moves into first place in the division as they head into the holiday break. Their first game back will put first place on the line against SC del Sol Armstrong.
Game 2 v. Gilbert Arsenal (W, 3-0)
98 Red came out firing and Christopher Cooper found the back of the net in the 3rd minute. Arsenal almost pulled even midway through on a ball that bounced off the crossbar and then back out. Neither the center referee nor the AR ruled it a goal and play continued. The second half saw more back and forth play until Anthony Negrete scored with about 12 minutes to play. Christopher Cooper put them up 3-0 barely two minutes later to cap the victory for 98 Red.
Game 1 v. CCV Stars (W, 3-0)
After a layoff of several weeks, 98 Red showed up in very good form. Giovanni Ahumada struck early in the first half to give the boys a 1-0 lead. Ten minutes later, Brian Simpson and Will Birchard lined up on either side of the ball for a direct kick just outside the penalty area. Will took the kick and placed the ball brilliantly around the wall and past the keeper for the second goal. Jacob Zepp found himself in just the right place late in the second half to add a third goal and seal the victory for 98 Red. The defense played exceptionally well, never allowing CCV Stars to get a clear shot within 18 yards, earning themselves a well deserved clean sheet - their 7th of the year!
Season I (Sep. 12 through Nov. 21)
Schedule
Standings (3-2-2, 11 pt, 3rd Place Div. I)
Game 7 v. SC del Sol Armstrong (L, 3-0)
With the game starting late and without a coach, 98 Red began confused and sluggish. The boys settled down after giving up three goals in the first 15 minutes and made a few chances. Substitute coach BJ Birchard convinced the boys that the second half was a whole new game and they played del Sol strong in the second half, earning a 0 - 0 tie for the half.
Game 6 v. SC del Sol McNaughton (T, 1-1)
98 Red went down 1-0 early in the second half when GK Jason Zismann let a free kick dribble between his legs. The boys looked sluggish throughout and didn’t appear as though they were going to pull it off. However, Giovanni Ahumada placed one well and brought them even with about 10 minutes to play. 98 Red came alive and put the pressure on the del Sol defense. Unfortunately, none of their shots were on the mark and they settled for the tie.
Game 5 v. TMFSC Oro (W, 5-0)
98 Red took a 1-0 lead at midpoint of the first half on a goal by Jacob Zepp, which carried them into halftime. Although they had a few chances, Oro could not solve the boys defense. The second half saw 98 Red pressure the Oro defense. With goals by Skyler Decker, Brian Vu and two by Christopher Cooper, they put the game out of reach, for a 5-0 win.
Game 4 v. Cisco Black
Cisco Black could not field a full team due to illness and injury. By league rules a forfeit counts as a 4-0 victory for 98 Red. This moves the boys to 3rd place in the standings.
Game 3 v. Scottsdale Blackhawks (W, 4-2)
Hunter Myrdal put one in early to give 98 Red a quick lead. Rafael Castro made a great sliding kick to clear a ball out of the goal that had slipped through GK Jason Zismann’s hands, keeping Blackhawks scoreless. Anthony Negrete scored another and the boys took a 2-0 lead into the half.
Blackhawks came out of the half determined and soon tied the score at 2-2. Giovanni Ahumada took a shot that a Blackhawk defender headed and bounced in for a score before the Blackhawks goalie could reach it. Jacob Zepp finished the scoring and 98 Red took down the Blackhawks for their first State League win!
Game 2 v. CCV Stars (T, 1-1)
Ricky Villatoro knocked in a rebound late in the second half to notch a 1-0 lead for 98 Red. Minutes later, CCV Stars pressed hard and the defense collapsed on their striker. Somehow, he found his way through all four defenders and poked one past to equalize the score. 98 Red had little time left and the whistle blew to end the game in a 1-1 tie.
Game 1 v. Randolph Santos (L, 2-1)
Danny Espeleta scored early to put 98 Red up 1-0, but Santos responded 5 minutes later to tie the score. Santos struck again late in the game on a rebound that resulted from a one-on-one block from GK Jason Zismann. 98 Red pressed hard for the remainder, but could not find the equalizer.
