Soccer has officially started for the Quantico Middle/High School Warriors’ Boys Varsity Team. Their first match was against the Stafford Narnia team at Butler Stadium on April 10.

Unlike their sister team, the Lady Warriors -- who tied the Stafford girls team, 2-2, earlier in the day -- the Warriors weren’t looking for a tie. They wanted to start their season with nothing short of a win.

“I think that it’s going to be a pretty close game,” said Sean Harrigan, Stafford head coach. “My team has been focusing on their attacks and passes, and with many of them playing for me last year, it should make for an interesting first game.”

In the first half, both teams seemed to be dead even with neither team venturing too far into their opponent’s territory. It was not until mid-way through the first half when David, a freshman player for the Warriors, came out of nowhere with a breakaway that turned into a goal. The Warriors’ fans were going crazy, happy about the first goal of the season. Meanwhile on the field and sidelines, the Warriors showed the excitement on their faces but also made sure that they kept as much composure as possible. They remembered that their coach, Robert Hume, wanted them to act humble, show sportsmanship throughout the game no matter the score. The half ended with the Warriors up, 1-0.

To start the second half, Hume pulled most of his starters for some much-needed rest. Hume’s strategy wasn’t about scoring. It was about using the fundamentals his team learned during practices and applying them in a defensive setting.

The Warriors didn’t let their coach down as they kept Stafford at bay and from attacking their goal most of the half. On top of playing smart defense, they were using a more aggressive touch on offense with more attacks on Stafford’s goal nearly once every two minutes of play. It was only a matter of time before the Warriors scored another goal, this time by Haavard, a junior player for the Warriors.

In the last three minutes of play, Stafford was pushing for at least one goal, yet after a relentless defensive strategy put in to play and two-last minute blocks by Elias, junior goalie for the Warriors, the game ended with the Warriors taking the win, 2-0.

“To start the first game of the season off with a win is good,” Hume said.  “There is still some things that the team needs to work on, but they had a lot of heart and hustled for the ball out there tonight.”