The buildup before the soccer game was intense.
The diocese advertised the event on social media and some of the priests mentioned the game to their parishioners. The National Honor Society was tapped to help with game preparation and concessions.
As game time approached, the Wolves in their white jerseys contrasted sharply with the visiting team dressed in black. With four minutes left in the pregame warmup, “Eye of the Tiger” blared over stadium speakers. The stage was set for this first annual clash between the varsity boys soccer team and Priests United in an age-old contest of youth v. wisdom at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Potomac Shores Nov. 17.
John Paul the Great students had looked forward to watching their boys varsity face off with the visiting team made up of diocesan priests.
“We should win,” said Catalina O’Connor, “unless they take it easy on them.”
“I hear they have (Division I) players,” quipped AJ Welsh, sophomore defensive player for the Wolves.
Teachers speculated that if Priests United won, they’d take their game to the other diocesan high schools. Either way, all agreed that the game would be a fun annual event.
At game time, three referees called out the captains of each team to center field: fist bumps all the way around, and then two steps back, each toward their respective sides. The visitors called and won the toss, choosing to play the first half with the setting sun at their backs. When the two teams were introduced, the 13 players of Priests United named the parish where each one serves.
With a corner kick and two shots fired within the first five minutes, neither team was taking it easy. John Paul the Great subbed in the remainder of its starters, and the intensity on both sides was elevated.
The first half progressed with beautiful crossing passes, deflected shots, corner kicks, headers, shots hitting the crossbar, split-second saves, a looming threat in front of one goal, followed by a flurry of activity in front of another — but both teams remained scoreless.
Then the high schoolers struck first, with a goal by Alex Garcia, assisted by Alex Raudales. Priests United countered with a shot saved by Nick Kramer just before the whistle, closing the half with the Wolves up by one.
No fewer than six shots on goal within the first 10 minutes of the second half set the tone for the remainder of the game.
With adrenaline high, attempts on both sides were wide, deflected or through the uprights. Then, still within the 50th minute of play, Father Joe Moschetto drilled a blistering ball from 25 yards out, 2 feet off the ground to the right pocket of the goal, tying the game at 1.
Under stadium lights, with the game on the line, the Wolves erupted at the 63rd minute when Jackson Morgan hit a left footer to the right corner of the goal. The new lead stirred fans who had braved the cold for the evening’s game.
Priests United continued to defend amid a flurry of shots before the goal in the final seconds until the game finished with a final score of 2-1. The youths came out on top this year. But far from playing as sheep among wolves, Priests United played as they are — true shepherds.
O’Connor is chair of the fine arts department at John Paul the Great.
