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Sports

West Potomac Struggles from Start, Loses 2-1 at Home

Jaguars' two second-half goals outdo Taylor's first-half penalty kick goal

Heading into halftime of Tuesday night’s boys varsity soccer game, West Potomac Coach Andrew Peck found his team ahead 1-0 following a hand-ball inside the Jaguars’ 18-yard box – but he was not satisfied with his side’s play.

“Falls Church just dominated the game,” Peck said. “Pretty much after that [penalty kick] our guys just weren’t there in mind, body and spirit. We just didn’t come out to play tonight.”

Despite the first-half deficit, the Jaguars (2-1) continued to attack, pressuring the Wolverines throughout the game. Jose Porteria finally broke through in the 65th and 76th minutes leading Falls Church to a 2-1 win.

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“That was the first time this season we’ve had that mindset to come back,” Jaguars Coach Lucas Cook said. “We’re playing well, it’s been successful, but we just haven’t gotten something on the other end.”

Porteria’s quickness, combined with sophomore midfielder Kelvin Herrera’s playmaking abilities, was eventually too much for the Wolverines to handle. The team’s response in the second half, though, proved vital to getting the victory.

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With just over four minutes remaining, his second goal put the game out of reach.

“I had midfielders coming up and their defenders dropping back,” Porteria said. “They played me the ball and I saw an opening to turn and get the shot off.”

Porteria nearly had another goal in the 67th minute when his volley from 20 yards away beat the Wolverine goalie but instead hit the crossbar.

West Potomac senior forward James Taylor put the home team ahead in the 25th minute when he converted a penalty kick against the run of play. The Jaguars, though, had attacked his team throughout the first half but it was Taylor who converted his chance – something Falls Church struggled to do in the first half.

The Wolverines (1-2) looked to be able to hold off the Jaguars and push the game into overtime until Porteria received a long ball at the top of the 18-yard box from Herrera, spun around his defender and shot the ball past the outstretched arms of West Potomac goalie Nelson Loza into the bottom right corner to give his team the lead and eventual victory.

Senior forward Miguel Mota kept the Wolverines on their heels in the first half, using his speed to constantly burst past their defense and create goal-scoring opportunities for the Jaguars.

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