After a historic victory against Villanova Prep, Norton faced off against The New Roads School from Santa Monica, CA at Norton’s field on Monday, Feb. 17. Despite Norton’s best efforts, the varsity boys’ soccer team fell to New Roads with a 0-2 loss, disqualifying Norton from proceeding in the CIF championships.
Staying Focused
Coach Victor Varela and the players expressed how they mentally focused, stayed resilient, and closed with composure, despite the suboptimal result.
“Every game I go through the same thing,” Varela said. “We have a little chat between us, making sure everyone knows how we are going to cover our lineup. Before this game, I let them know that we need to do better on defense, and that is what we tried to do during the game.”
“The biggest mistake I think was that we were all nervous,” Varela explained. “And that affected the game from our end. I tried to talk to them during halftime, try to cheer them up, letting them know that we still have 40 minutes to go, that we can still come up as winners. But, like I said, unfortunately [the game against New Roads] was not our day.”
Sergio Esteban (‘26) stated that praying before the match had a powerful impact on him.
“We all just mentally prayed before the game,” Esteban (‘26) said. “We asked [in our prayer] for us to be helped in our game and not get hurt or anything. During the game, too, coach told us how we needed to keep a strong mindset.”
Leobardo Morales (‘27) said that the team tried to keep persevering during the game, even when the game seemed ill-fated.
“We kept pushing forward and gave our absolute best upfront,” Morales (‘27) said. “We poured our sweat, tears, and everything we had into the game.”
Similarly, Antonio Esteban (‘27) emphasized the team’s belief in a potential comeback during the match.
“I kept reminding everyone that we had the power to turn things around,” Esteban (‘27) said. “We just needed to stay focused and united.”
Coach Varela and players also noted Norton’s successes and growth during the game, too, even if they ultimately lost.
“Edward has come a long way playing defense,” Varela said. “His toughness show [against New Roads], and he covered well on his left side.”
“Alejandro also had a strong block in the game,” Varela added. “It was a corner kick when Alejandro slapped the ball. He barely touched it but the ball went out of bounds.”
“Some of the most impressive plays were made by our defensive effort, especially Alejandro,” Morales (‘27) said. “He threw his heart and soul into the game, and I think that without him it would have been a very different game.”
Learning From Loss, Setting Future Goals
After the match, Norton’s Coach Varela and players reflected on the key plays made by New Roads and what they can learn from the opposing team and apply in the future.
“Unfortunately, it was a counter-strike that led to their second goal,” Varela said. “That’s the one that ultimately killed us.”
“The most impressive play from [New Roads] was actually just how they moved the ball,” Morales (‘27) said, “It is something we could also learn how to do more often and improve upon with next year’s team. It was very impressive and we can use their strategy to our advantage.”
“Even though the seniors are leaving next year, I hope we win the league,” Moises Figueroa (‘26) said. “We need to be ready and strong next year.”
“I’m a junior right now. We’ll be seniors next year just like most of our team this year,” Esteban (‘26) said. “As seniors, it’s important for us to give it our all. Winning the league again would be an amazing way to end our time here, much like the seniors did this year. I want us next year and all future players to play with all their heart and dedication.”
“I hope next year’s team focuses on communication and developing strong team dynamics,” Adam Orosco Jr. (‘25) added. “It’s essential for them to connect well with their coach, who will be instrumental in guiding them and imparting important lessons. I have faith that they’ll carry on the legacy and understand what it means to be part of this team.”
“I also want to urge all future players to prioritize their studies,” Varela said. “Academic eligibility is a significant issue. Unfortunately, I’ve had to inform some kids they couldn’t join the team due to poor GPA. It’s something I genuinely dislike doing. During tryouts, I always stress the importance of good grades. All players in the future should ensure they keep up with their homework to avoid such disappointments.”
Celebrating the Hard Work of Champions
Even in the face of loss, Norton came together to celebrate the hard work the varsity boys’ soccer team put in this year to reach such historic heights. On Tuesday, Feb. 18 Norton held a champions’ parade for the team behind the school gym during high school lunch. Students from all grade levels were escorted by teachers to take a break from class and cheer on the team. After the parade, the team was treated to pizza and drinks as a token of appreciation.
“I didn’t really see [the champion’s parade] as a positive thing because we lost,” Orosco Jr. (‘25) said. “But at the same time it was OK because it showed how much support we had from the school.”
“It was something cool that the school did, and it felt nice,” Esteban (‘26) explained. “I didn’t expect it. At first, I thought they were going to just put a little poster there and that’s it. But then, no, we walked out of the gym, and there was almost the whole school waiting outside for us. It was shocking. It was [the school] showing how hard we worked for it, even though we didn’t win. They showed us how proud they were.”
“I know the parade was too early because we lost the [day before],” Varela concluded. “But it makes us feel better since we won the league, and it’s something that we have never done here at school before. Thankfully I had a great [team] with me [that included] all my kids that I’ve been with for the last three years. They gave me everything this year. And that’s how we did it.”
