The middle school boys’ soccer team participated in the South Korea Association of International Schools (SKAIS) finals hosted by the International School of Busan (ISB) on Nov. 22. With coordinated play and consistent drive, both junior varsity (JV) and varsity turned the one-day tournament into a two-title sweep. 

DIS fielded a strong lineup against ISB in their opening match, featuring goalkeeper Honglim Jin (58), center backs Tony Kim (8) and Lucas Shin (17), midfielders Arthur Silva (77), Volt Paik (15), Sean Kim (7), Paul Marechal (4), Yahyo Khorilov (11), and striker Pyo Hong (9).

Just a few minutes into the game, Silva (77) scored a hat trick with steady focus and coordination. His early burst set off a strong start and allowed the team to secure a commanding win (6:1).  

Next up, the squad faced Atherton International School (AIS). Building on their early success, the players displayed improved teamwork and active communication that led to another lopsided victory of 6:1.

After another 6:1 win in their subsequent match against Busan Foreign School (BFS), the A team successfully advanced to the finals. “We continued to play our style. Our coaches would give us advice on the sidelines. I tried to listen to it as much as possible, and it worked out,” said striker Pyo Hong (9). 

Entering the finals undefeated, varsity claimed the first place trophy with a 4:2 win. Despite a relatively smaller field and limited practice sessions, DIS executed skillful plays they drilled through practice. 

“It was a close game until the second half because both teams had similar skill levels. But after half-time, it got a lot easier. We were locked in, really trying to concentrate on the match. Our build-ups got way better with sharper passes and faster dribbles,” said Horilov (11).

Players attributed their success at the tournament to rigorous practice sessions. “As a 6th grader, playing against 7th and 8th graders, I had difficulties with physical contact during the game. We had multiple practice sessions that helped increase our speed, and it definitely played a huge role in winning through those tough situations,” Silva (77) said.

At the same time, junior varsity kicked off their first match against the Sharks with Aiden Hwang (34) as goalie, Damir Makhamatzhanov (20) and Miles Long (24) as Center backs, Steven Jang (1), Jay Jang (2), Jacob Lee (37), Joseph Cho (0) as Midfielders, and Eddy Kim (67) as striker. 

In their opening match against the Sharks, a neck-and-neck battle defined the first half until a commanding goal broke the tie and lifted team morale. They continued their streak as the Jets’ strikers pressed forward and searched for scoring opportunities that extended their lead to 8:0. The squad then defeated the ISB Bears with a score of 5-0, advancing to the finals with ease. 

In the finals, JV faced off against BFS. With their previous victory earlier, the athletes entered the match with high expectations. Though challenges arose, they remained composed and adapted quickly to the flow, sealing the match with a decisive 4:1 win. “There was a lot of pressure, but we kept it alive. BFS was good in skill, but we were better in speed. Also, we had a great height advantage over them. I believe these were the key parts in leading us to a championship win,” said center back Miles Long (24).

Wrapping up the season with a double championship, both teams celebrated the steady growth and progress they achieved throughout the year. “All the advanced drills we did for years contributed to the success. We worked really hard, and the players could see the value of everything they had done for the year. It was a really nice way to finish the year,” said Coach Gall.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Annie Cho

The junior varsity crew gathers after their dominant victory run. Their strong performance reflects the confidence and cohesion they built throughout the season.