Trojans' soccer team beats McClatchy to improve to 4-0

Oak Ridge High's varsity soccer team reached the second round of the playoffs a year ago and the way they've started this season they're looking to go further. The Trojans have won their first four games and have done so impressively; scoring 14 goals and allowing only one. On Friday afternoon, the Trojans defeated McClatchy, 6-0, and many of the goals featured nifty assists, as the Trojans did a good job sharing the ball in the offensive third and finishing. If their play is a sign of things to come, they could be a force in the ever-challenging Sierra Foothill League and Division I playoffs. "We've got a good group that's showing their potential," Oak Ridge coach Tony Guzman said. "We're good at possessing the ball and passing it around. We stay composed and don't panic." Outside back Johnny Yan and forward Brian Ramirez, both seniors, are team captains. Yan scored the first goal of the game against McClatchy, while Ramirez finished the scoring late in the game following Avery Chimienti's second assist. Oak Ridge featured five goal scorers, while four players added assists. Cole Giaudrone scored twice. On his first goal, which put the Trojans up 2-0 at the half, James Chalmers crossed the ball from the right side to the far post, and Giaudrone was there to volley it into the back of the net on one touch. In the second half, Yan passed a short through ball to Ramirez, who crossed the ball to Chimienti, whose shot was wide, but William Gezi was on the far post to knock it in. Ramirez was involved again in the fourth goal, as he made a cross to Gezi, whose shot was saved by the McClatchy keeper, but Giaudrone finished it off. Later, Jackson Broomand made it 5-0 when he converted Spencer Hasik's pass into a goal. Of course, the Trojans aren't going to score six goals every game, but if they possess, pass and share the ball and finish like they did against McClatchy, they will be tough to beat. "I liked how we finished today and found the back of the net," Guzman said. "We also made some nice combinations to get to the net, and our defense also played well." The Trojans final game of 2022 is a 7 p.m. game at home Tuesday against Rio Americano. The team opens league play at Granite Bay on Jan. 4.