Folsom soccer team has strong preseason

With the Delta River League schedule beginning next week, Folsom High's varsity soccer team enters league play following a solid preseason.The Bulldogs finished the first portion of the schedule with a 7-3 record, or 7-2 depending on whether the opening match against Granite Bay was a game or actually a scrimmage, which is what Folsom coach Mike McBride is calling it.The Bulldogs had a busy week last week with four games in three days and the team came away with three wins. Folsom opened the week on Thursday with a 3-2 win over Lincoln. The Bulldogs featured a balanced attack, as Evan Woodruff, RJ James and Scott Hayes found the back of the net. "It was a fun game," McBride said. "We possessed the ball and controlled the game and that's what we want to do. They scored their goals on a PK and a breakaway." In the first round of the Natomas Tournament on Friday, the Bulldogs opened the day with a 2-0 loss to a very strong Franklin team, which made it to the section quarterfinals a year ago. "They're a solid, big, fast and physical team," McBride said. "Even though we lost, I felt we stepped up and played them extremely well. We had a couple opportunities to score, but just didn't capitalize. Playing a team like Franklin only helps us get ready for our league schedule." Folsom recovered to easily defeat West Campus later in the day, 4-1. Hayes scored twice, while Woodruff and Robel Yamane also tickled the twine. "We're starting to play together and develop more chemistry," McBride said. "We made some nice runs in this game." The Bulldogs finished the tournament with a 4-1 win over Valley on Saturday morning. Hayes scored twice, while Matt Martino and Woodruff also found the back of the net."Scott has been on fire and our defense is really stepping up," McBride said. "Really, our whole team is stepping up. Even when I make substitutions, there is no drop in play. It's a team thing."Folsom opened league play on Tuesday at Pleasant Grove and travels to Florin on Thursday."We're heading into league play with only two losses and with no injuries so we couldn't ask for more than that," McBride said.