The girls’ soccer team visited the Daegu Military base to compete in a friendly game against Daegu Middle and High School (DMHS) on May 11. Fresh off a bronze from the Korean International School Activities Conference (KISAC) tournament, they carried the momentum forward and celebrated a blowout victory.
They Jets kicked off with Mika Lee (10) as goalkeeper, Amy Shim (17) as right center back, Minori Kojima (9) as center midfielder, Ellen Cho (0) as left center back, Leewen Wang (1) as left midfielder, Sarah Cho (19) as right midfielder, and Mary Cho (20) as striker.
Due to the absence of goalkeepers Victoria Kang (10) and Hailey Ahn (0), midfielder Mika Lee (77) stepped into the spotlight. “At first, I didn’t like the position. But during the game, I got used to it. I thought I would feel a lot of pressure, but [because] our defense was really good and our team was winning, I wasn’t pressured at all,” said freshman goalie Mika Lee (10).
As the whistle blew, offenders Leewen Wang (1) and Mary Cho (20) pressed the Warriors’ backline. With quick, back-and-forth passes, they searched for openings to break through the tight defense. Center-midfielder Kojima (9) supported these two with coordinated passes forward, which led Cho (20) to strike a strong shot only 5 minutes in (0:1).
However, after Cho’s goal, Kojima (9) attempted to clear a throw-in with a header, but it deflected into her own net, which equaled out the score at 1:1. While this unexpected setback shook morale, they soon regrouped for a strong comeback with renewed focus and precision. “I think we were able to do what we did in practice like rondos and through passes and played our own game,” Wang (1) said.
Armed with a strong mindset, they tightened their defense and executed sharper passes. After a fierce tackle, right wing Leewen Wang (1) dribbled the ball through the sideline and slid a clean pass to Cho (19), who threaded the needle between the Warriors’ center backs to left wing Michelle Kim (24). With composure, Kim slotted her kick into the net and restored momentum (1:3).
After a 5-minute break, coaches Faille and Gall substituted in JV players, alongside varsity members Sarah Cho (19) and Apple Jun (17). Although some lacked field experience, their high spirits allowed them to break through.
They didn’t kick a goal, but the newcomers held onto the lead. “Although the JV team players couldn’t score, their defense was very strong and had good passes, so I could dribble and shoot,” freshman Sarah Cho (19) said.
After halftime, the Jets returned with a refined strategy. After a corner kick just a few minutes in, center back Kojima (9) initiated a breakaway with quick, one-two exchanges with right wing Wang (1). Carrying the rhythm, Wang (1) followed up with a powerful shot into the far right post, extending the lead to 1:5.
Around the 20-minute mark, the Warriors scored from the halfway line, taking advantage of the Jets’ brief lapse. Fueled by momentum, the Warriors struck again and tried to narrow the margin with another goal at 3:6. Still, DIS’ defense held firm, which limited the Warriors to just 4 goals.
Although the day finished with a dominant 4:9 Jets victory, competition remained fierce. “The game was intense, and I think both teams were super motivated and focused throughout. Although we were losing, we managed to fight back and scored more. DIS was really strong with their passing and ball control, and I would love to compete against them in the future,” DMHS co-captain Denali Clites said.
From a bronze in KISAC to a dominant victory over DMHS, the SKAIS tournament will mark their final challenge of the season. “Overall, their communication and sharp passes were key to maintaining our lead. Mr. Gall and I are very proud of how they’ve grown as a team,” Coach Faille said.
