The girls’ varsity team traveled to Camp Henry to compete in the inaugural friendly game of the season against the Daegu Middle and High School (DMHS) on March 21. While the girls struggled in the first half, they stepped up their game in the second half to secure a 3:1 victory. 

Due to an event occurring at Camp Walker, both boys and girls traveled to Camp Henry. “Talking about the pitch, it was tight for the boys but for the girls it was perfect. It was slightly wider than the Jeju pitch, but this was great because it would be really good for fitness,” said Coach Gall.

With a formation 3-1-2, the starting lineup featured: Goalkeeper Victoria Kang (10), right back Ellen Cho (0), centerback Minori Kojima (9), left back Apple Jun (17), midfielder Leewen Wang (1), left wing Kaylie Jeong (28) and right wing Mika Lee (77).

“We’re trying out a new formation. Having three at the back, one in the middle and two in the front. We just wanted to make sure the girls got enough game time practice. We kind of rotated enough, but we were trying players in new positions, too,” said Coach Gall.

The two twins, Sarah Cho (19) and Mary Cho (18), crucial players to the roster, started off at the bench due to no shin guards. “Starting from this year, all players are supposed to wear shin guards. I’m not used to this regulation, so I forgot to bring my shin guards the day before the game,” said Cho (19).

The girls kick-started the game strong. Adjusting into the new pitch, seniors Minori Kojima and Apple Jun controlled the game tempo with composure. Players continued to work on short and long passes, developed from their rondo practices, to build up an aggressive attack. 

“This was the girls first game in like 10 months, which is insane. But we wouldn’t have really guessed that it was their first game in 10 months. It took them a while to get into the rhythm in the first half. It was more of a battle and the passes were kind of a bit astray,” said Coach Gall.

While the crew pushed strong, the DMHS girls managed to take the lead with a goal. The squad also struggled with the offside rules, as both KISAC and SKAIS competitions play without it.

“The girls also had to adapt to the offside. They’re not used to playing that and they won’t be playing that in any of their tournaments. That’s something we spoke about halftime, and we were just like okay, even though we spoke about the rule beforehand, they didn’t really understand. That was causing some problems throughout the match,” said Coach Gall.

As the first 30-minute half came to its end, DMHS had the lead one-nil. “In the first half, we had weak defense, and had to catch up in the second half. We were learning throughout the game,” said Cho (0).

Down one goal, they entered the second half after a ten minute half-time break. 

Without any formation change, the girls focused on executing their roles with enhanced focus level. Their energy on the court shifted noticeably, as sharper passes, stronger defensive pressure, and accurate shots began to break down the tight DMHS defense.

“By the second half, they were up and running again at the level they were. Not exactly their peak from last season, but a good entry level for this season,” said Coach Gall.

Continuing to knock on the door, Sarah Cho (19) sparked the comeback with two goals, while Minori Kojima (9) added another to secure the lead. “The DMHS defense made a mistake while passing, and I was able to steal the ball and make a chance for another goal,” said Kojima (9). 

Players from the Warriors also showed respect in the Jets’ immaculate performance. “[DIS] had really good control of the ball and had really good communication. I remember the girl with really cool short hair (Minori Kojima) had really great leadership skills, bringing people up and having such great control of the ball,” said DMHS midfielder Lelani Rice.

With a rematch set in Camp Walker on April 14, the Jets look to carry their positive momentum forward. They plan to keep up with the high energy to deliver another victory once again. “The girls set the bar pretty high. We just want them to enjoy, make progress, listen, develop, and I think they’ll get some rewards from that,” said Coach Gall. 

Gallery • 5 Photos

Olya Karpenko

Victoria Kang (10) launches a long kick to spark a quick transition. Her immaculate kick drops right in front of the attacking line.