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With the end of the academic year just around the corner, students at 91����, California, took two nights last week to enjoy some all-school competition: the annual upper-versus-underclassman soccer games, which kicked off on Wednesday night with the men’s game. 

Fans gathered in the bleachers while their teams warmed up: the underclassmen, wearing white, headed by Joe Caughron (CA’28); and the upperclassmen, wearing black, headed by Joey Esser (CA’27) and Peter Ellis (CA’26). Following the National Anthem, the two teams took the field to the sound of commentators Greg Haggard (CA’26) and Luke Connelly (CA’27), who enlivened the game with their witty remarks and play-by-play narrations. 

The game’s first moments were neck-and-neck as players went head-to-head, hungry for a goal. It didn’t take too long before Diego Mota de Alcantara (CA’28) brought home the first point for the underclassmen, quickly followed by another goal from teammate Jonathan Schultz (CA’28). Just before the halftime whistle, the underclassmen added two more points to their lead, making the score 4–0. The momentum shifted in the second half as the upperclassmen earned their first goal, a soaring corner kick by Jonas Knox (CA’27); but the underclassmen put up great defense and held on to win the game. “Great work and great sportsmanship from both sides — but in the end, the best team won,” said Joe. 

The next evening, at the conclusion of junior and senior seminars, spectators returned to the field to watch the women’s match: a showdown between Catherine Goyette’s (CA’28) underclassmen and Elena Walz’s (CA’26) upperclassmen. At the game’s start, the upperclassmen pulled ahead with a goal from their team captain, followed closely by another from Serena Cools (CA’27). Although the underclassmen fought tooth and nail throughout the game, a final goal from Hannah Chadwick (CA’27) fortified the victory for the junior and senior women, who won 3–0. 

“The underclassmen made great opponents,” commented Zoe Pipes (CA’26). “And the upperclassmen girls were so much fun to play with. I’m glad we got the chance to play one more game together before graduation.” 

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