by Jesus Biag, co-Editor-in-Chief

The Trinity League is one of the toughest leagues in the country, known for its excellence in sports such as basketball and football. But it is just as competitive in soccer. 

Consequently, this provides a massive motivational spark for a hungry Bosco soccer team, who began Trinity League play last week. Before league matches, the team competed in preseason games to get in shape and gain synergy.

Mr. Salvador Perez, math instructor and assistant coach, believed that the preseason was a great time for the squad to gain chemistry, something vital if they hope to see success in league play.

“[The point of preseason] is to get the team gelling together. We had a few transfers, so we had to get them adjusted and used to new positions,” said Mr. Perez.

The process of getting transfers adjusted to the team was a difficult one, according to Mr. Perez. A lot of the new players came from club teams in which they played different positions, so a few of them needed to adjust to adapt to new spots on the field to help the team win.

Coming into the 2024-2025 season, the coaching staff had high expectations for the team, who finished last year’s campaign with a 9-12-3 record, just falling short of a playoff berth. The preseason set them on a solid track as they went 3-5-6 ahead of their Trinity League opener.

But it wasn’t just the coaching staff that expected a lot out of the team coming into the season.

“They’ve been hungry for [success] for a while,” said Mr. Perez. “It’s there for the taking, they just need to go ahead and take it.”

Senior captain Gabe Lopez has trained hard all offseason to help his teammates chase after their biggest goal, to make it to the playoffs.

“Within my four years here, I haven’t made [the] playoffs,” said Gabe. “So making it [to the playoffs] my senior year would be the highlight of my high school soccer journey.”

But before they can make it to the playoffs, they need to match up with some of the best teams in California. First came Orange Lutheran, who were 6-2-1 before facing the Braves. The game was close and competitive, but Bosco ultimately fell 2-1.

After that, Bosco Soccer was slated to face off against Santa Margarita, but the game was postponed because of the California wildfires. This stung Gabe, in particular, as he looked forward to playing Santa Margarita. In every game he’s played against the Eagles, the matchup has always been close.

On Friday, January 10th, the Braves traveled to Anaheim to face off against Servite. Giving up a couple of penalties hurt Bosco, and as a result, they suffered a 3-0 loss.

The next game for the soccer team was big, as they were set to face “The Team in Red” in Orange County. 

“While every game is important in Trinity League, there’s definitely [added fuel] when we play [“The Team in Red”],” said Mr. Perez. “They’re tough, vocal, and very physical. [It’s important to] be disciplined because one error can open up the floodgates.”

The Braves were severe underdogs going into this matchup, as “The Team in Red” is currently the third-ranked team in the country according to MaxPreps.

Every player has their way of approaching these big matchups, but senior Alex Calvillo chooses to let his faith guide his performance.

“I like to see [these types of matchups] as challenges that I can get through,” Alex said. “[I know that with] God, I can play smarter and stronger.”

Although the Braves suffered a tough 3-0 defeat, their grit and fight throughout the game are a silver lining for them to take into their next match today against JSerra. The Lions are currently undefeated and the top-ranked team in the country, according to MaxPreps. 

Despite early league struggles, the Braves’ playoff hopes are still alive. With an underdog mentality and drive for success, Bosco Soccer may make some noise throughout the remainder of the Trinity League season.