All photos by Parker McCloskey.
JHS defeats Floyd Central 3-1 last night
Tag: Soccer
JHS defeats Seymour in soccer Tuesday night
All photos by Malachi Conrad, Isaiah Stewart, Mason Ridge, and Reilly Davis.
JHS defeats Franklin on Saturday to improve to 5-1
All photos by Parker McCloskey.
JHS defeats Jennings County 8-3 last night
All photos by Malachi Conrad and Isaiah Stewart.
Conrad.
Photo by Malachi Conrad.
hat trick. Photo by Malachi Conrad.
Louisville Eastern defeats Red Devils 3-2 last night
All photos by Parker McCloskey.
goal last night. Photo by Parker McCloskey.
Parker McCloskey.
Parker McCloskey.
Small team, big responsibilities
Girls’ soccer team recruits new players, uses positive energy to face the season
by Layney Derricott
The JHS girls’ soccer team has begun the new season with a smaller-than-normal roster, with barely enough players to fill the field or the bench.
However, coming off a long summer break and straight into practice, the team is keeping a positive mindset despite the challenges.
“We always make sure to always be uplifting and bring each other up — that’s important,” said senior midfielder Layana Cosby.
After the 2025-26 season, a variety of players graduated, leaving the team depleted; however, the game still goes on. With their first game on August 18, the team prepared hastily. To start the season, they held tryouts August 3-5, resulting in a roster of 19, just enough players to field a team.
Being on a team with fewer players can change experiences, including creating a different environment, demanding more responsibility with individual players and affecting gameplay.
Coach Emily Foster said, “It’s a struggle having to try out new positions, but they are rising well to the challenge of something new. It’s all a matter of time for the team.”
In addition to adjusting to new positions, the smaller roster has also learned the importance of teamwork and patience.
Sophomore center defender Haylee Alvaranga stated, “Having to have more patience helps with being a better team player by allowing you to listen, communicate, and work well with others.”
Smaller teams sometimes mean less help. Players said patience in waiting their turns, along with communicating, thinking of others, and listening, tends to be a key virtue in being a team player.
Senior team captain Abi Lemon stated, “facing tough opponents while staying optimistic” will be the Red Devils’ biggest challenge to overcome this season.
Meeting this challenge while struggling under pressure can be hard but effective, according to Lemon. The new players joining the team are both helpful and encouraged.
“It is a great experience to try something new; no matter how good someone is, their talent is needed. Everyone has unique talents and skills that can contribute to the team and make a lasting difference,” said Alvarenga.
The players described a welcoming environment as they prepare for their opponents, and they’re ready for just anyone to join the team. Hoping to be at their their peak by the time they play local rival Floyd Central, the Red Devils have the chance to turn their early challenges into motivation to prove what they can accomplish.
Lemon shared her ways of keeping a positive mindset for herself and the young team.
“Always put God first, making sure to keep your head up. While lifting up the people around you, also allowing them to lift you up.”
JHS defeats Providence 3-1 last night
All photos by Parker McCloskey.
Boys’ soccer defeats Evansville Reitz 2-1 on Saturday
All photos by Parker McCloskey.
Red Devil soccer team advances to regional to face Evansville North
North defeats JHS in regional final; Red Devils win first sectional championship since 2012
All photos by Parker McCloskey.
Boys’ soccer wins sectional tournament, heads to regional tonight to face Evansville North
Red Devils win first Sectional championship since 2012 by defeating Bedford North Lawrence 5-0
Sophomore excels for both JV, varsity soccer as sectional time approaches
by Isabella Stewart and Mahalia Smith
This year’s boys’ soccer team has had many new athletes introduced to the team, and the stands have filled up more than ever this season. Sophomore Ariel Andres Sandoval has played exceptionally well this season; his teammates speak highly of him.
Sandoval has played soccer for over 10 years; he knows most of his teammates from way back in elementary school soccer. With all that time, he has grown close with his teammates, and they could be perceived as family.
Sophomore Dylan Ortiz said he admired Sandoval’s loyalty and passion for soccer – the way he never gives up on the field, always pushing his teammates to be the best and giving them challenging opportunities to push themselves.
Aside from playing soccer, another hobby Sandoval really enjoys is reading and writing poems. When he’s not on the court, he’s reading or writing, even studying architecture.
Sandoval said his “biggest challenge in soccer is my mentality.” He has always been pushed to be good, but being great still comes with struggles.
Sandoval said, “Remembering the reason why, followed by the people I’m playing soccer with, keeps me motivated through every game.”
Sandoval and Ortiz both really look up to their team captain, senior Elijah Cheeks. Sandoval said, “He is always keeping me on my feet for every game we face.”
Cheeks is always there on the field helping every teammate out whenever he feels like he’s needed; he is there. Cheeks said, “I enjoy helping my teammates and helping them get better every day, not just as a soccer player, but as a person, too.”
Ortiz described Sandoval as “courageous.” He’s not deterred by danger; he’s brave and fearless, and Ortiz said, “that could be one of his biggest strengths.”
Sandoval loves a good meal after games; his favorite food is chicken, and typically after a game he enjoys a nice meal of chicken wings to provide protein and energy for the next game.
Sandoval strongly believes “the team will win sectionals in October and advance even more.”
Sectional play begins next Monday at Floyd Central at 7 p.m.; the Red Devils will face Jennings County.
Boys’ soccer prepares for sectional
by Aubrey Cummings
Pushing themselves as hard as they can for the 80 minutes that the match lasts. Heads up and hearts pounding every touch of the ball sends it moving across the field. With a shared goal, getting the ball into the net, the team moves as a unit across the field.
Ranked 36th in the state and 27th in their class, the varsity boys’ soccer team is moving along in their season.
Currently they are 12-3-1 and are second in the Hoosier Hills Conference for varsity and are 7-5-2 for JV. As the end of their season begins to approach for both teams they all begin to prepare for sectionals, with a normal goal of wanting to win sectionals and advance to regionals.
Head varsity coach Collin Bell explained, “It’s all about the game that is happening. One game at a time, one set of 80 minutes. If we push ourselves for those 80 minutes and commit ourselves for those 80 minutes, we will be successful.”
This was shown in their game against Franklin this year. The team had many teams cut from their schedule and many new ones added. They have faced tougher teams than they normally would. They do this to better themselves and to allow for them to be better prepared for the competition at the end.
“It’s all about the game that is happening. One game at a time, one set of 80 minutes. If we push ourselves for those 80 minutes and commit ourselves for those 80 minutes, we will be successful.”
Head Coach Collin Bell
“I think it’s a great change because it allows for us to adjust to playing new teams that we haven’t seen before, so it is a good way for us to test ourselves against teams that are considered better teams,“ said junior Alan Solorzano Lopez.
The varsity team isn’t the only one beginning to prepare for sectionals. Six of the JV members have the opportunity to go with the varsity boys to the sectional games.
“Knowing there’s a chance for us to go with the varsity team to sectionals encourages us on JV to push ourselves harder to show we are the best to try and claim our spots,” stated freshman JV member Dominic Cummings.
Doing this allows for younger boys to know what they may have the chance to experience in the near future. This allows for the program to continue to grow. The future also depends on some of the varsity boys as well as the JV.
“The pressure feels greater not just because I am a goalie, but also because I am a freshman, so I am representing more than just my varsity team but also my classmates on JV,” said varsity freshman Jafet Benitez-Rubio.
Benitez-Rubio is not just on the varsity team; he is the starter goalie as a freshman. This is significant every, and everyone knows it. The student section in games makes sure everyone knows by cheering “He’s a freshman” whenever he stops a ball from going in.
The team’s spirits are high as ever. The team feels confident and are preparing to have a different outcome than last year where they lost in the final round to Seymour.
The Red Devils play Jennings County next Monday in the opening round of sectionals at Floyd Central High School at 7 p.m.
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