Oakwood FC started the year off with disappointment. Our first game against Epiphany in the Epiphany Cup began in a tragic defeat, with the starting 11 consisting of mostly 6/7th graders due to half the Varsity team being on vacation. Nevertheless, Oakwood battled through and only lost by one, with a final score of 4-3. Although this was a disappointing defeat for Oakwood FC, Coach Nunnally made it clear that expectations were high, and that the team would have to rebound if we wanted to leave the tournament with dignity. The next two games Oakwood proceeded to dominate. Despite the reduced number of Varsity players on the roster still, Oakwood beat Pamlico Christian Academy 4-1, and Christ Covenant 5-3.
After missing out on silverware during the Epiphany Cup due to the first loss, it was clear that the mentality of the team was at fault. The next game Oakwood beat Pungo Christian Academy 11-3, and afterwards we went against Cape Fear Academy. Cape Fear’s style of play is common for teams in Oakwood’s schedule, and results in Oakwood getting fouled and beat up on constantly. Yet despite this, due to Oakwood’s teamwork and technical focus, Oakwood FC dominated the match with part of the JV team being subbed in.
This trend continued for the next coming games as Oakwood beat KVA, Epiphany, Cresset Christian Academy, and Ridgecroft. However this dominance was soon put to the test. Oakwood FC was away at Albemarle with expectations to win (as it was thought to be a guarantee at this point). Although opening the scoring, Oakwood went down by two for most of the game. Passes weren’t connecting, nobody was tracking back to defend, and with every mistake some players were hanging their heads like the world was ending. But after a halftime team talk from Coach Nunnally, in which everyone was reminded that scrappiness, grit, and effort were more important than any tricks, Oakwood went out with a new mentality. Although it took some time to go into effect, Oakwood soon was back to scoring with a finesse shot from Alex Mothersole, who, as Coach Nunnally is quoted as saying, “was out there running like a madman.” Through Alex’s inspiring determination, Oakwood was only one away from tying. I dribbled past their team and won a penalty, which Eduardo Murillo Ramirez scored with stunning ease. With the momentum on our side, Alex Mothersole won a free kick which Eduardo took to score again to the delight of the team. One team member, our SGA president, Aaron Briones, even shed tears. He described it, “as a huge sense of relief” after the team put in so much effort throughout the game. After singing our hearts out on the bus, the team arrived home and prepared for the next match against Coastal Brigade, which they won 8-1.
So far Oakwood FC has proven themselves skilled individuals and dedicated teammates, but the question lies in whether or not they can continue this stretch of “scrappiness”, and prove themselves worthy of the badge.
