ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The Sheldon Huskies boys soccer team traveled to Pleasant Grove on Friday, Dec. 19 to play the Eagles during rainy conditions.

Sheldon was coming off a 4-1 victory over Kennedy High School on Dec. 16. The Huskies had a record of 2-1-1 going into their first league game. The Eagles were 2-2-1 on the season and had started a two-game win streak they were looking to extend. They also beat Liberty Ranch 2-1 on Dec. 11 and Laguna Creek 5-0 on Dec. 17.                            

The game started with the Huskies applying pressure on the Eagles, but they were not giving anything up. The Eagles played great defense and prevented the Huskies from gaining any sort of advantage.

 

Pleasant Grove senior Grady N. McFaddin (No. 2) splits a Sheldon double-team. 

They even switched the momentum of the game. The Eagles took the ball from the Huskies and proceeded to go down the field and score a goal, taking the lead with more than halfway gone in the first half of the game.     

Sheldon continued to apply pressure, but Pleasant Grove stayed strong and shut them down through the first half and into halftime.               

Going into the second half, both teams still applied pressure, with both teams making attempts on goals, but being stopped.

More than halfway through the second half, Sheldon was able to get a free kick attempt. Junior Uriel Martin kicked the attempt and scored through the Pleasant Grove defense, tying the game 1-1.    

The Eagles continued to make attempts on goals but were coming up empty with the Huskies playing tough defense.                                

The Huskies were able to take advantage of a late opportunity that was given by the Eagles. Junior Arash Rafiqui was able to score in the last minutes of the game on a fast-break push.  

 

Sheldon junior Arash Rafiqui (No. 5) kicks the game-winning attempt past the closing goalkeeper. 

 

Pleasant Grove continued to make last-minute pushes to tie the game but Sheldon was able to prevail, beating the Eagles 2-1, coming back in the second half to win their first league game of the season. 

The Huskies are now 3-1-1 in the early season and starting 1-0 in league play. They continue their league play in the New Year as their next game is home against Laguna Creek High School on Jan. 7.                    

The Eagles fall to 2-3-1 on the season and are 1-1 in league play. Their next game is an out-of-league game against Valley High School.                  

Both Pleasant Grove and Sheldon will continue to make improvements as they play each other again later in the season.