The MVHS boys soccer team defeated the Palo Alto Vikings 2-0 at home on Jan. 29.
The first 20 minutes of the game were intense, as both teams fought constantly over possession of the ball. Both sides showed strong offensive potential, yet neither team was able to score.
“Palo Alto is a really, really good team,” head coach Jim McGuirk said. “They’re intense, they play hard.”
The Spartans scored first with junior defender Patrick McGuirk heading in the first goal of the game in the 28th minute, redirecting a corner kick from junior midfielder Cyrus Shafie.
According to coach McGuirk, the Spartan’s strategy involved overloading the center and putting different players on the wings.
The second half started off similar to the first, with both teams trying to maintain possession for long stretches of time. In the 62nd minute, Patrick McGuirk scored his second of the game, capitalizing on a rebound off of a freekick.
In the last minutes of the game, the Vikings began pushing up the field to attack Mountain View’s defense. However, senior goalkeeper Parker Lunn made numerous saves to keep Palo Alto off the scoresheet.
“Our guys did a good job just pulling their composure, not getting too wound up,” coach McGuirk said.
With Mountain View’s defense staying strong, the Spartans were able to secure another win this season. With this victory, MVHS maintains its top position in the league, three points ahead of second-place Los Altos.
