Boys JV Soccer Shoots for Perfection

The Boys Junior Varsity Soccer (7-0-2) team has dominated this season. They have outscored their opponents 39-5, are on a five-game win streak, and are undefeated with just a month left in the season. 

To start the season, the boys program had their traditional slate of matches against Inter-Ac opponents and proved that they could compete and win against those often placed on an athletic pedestal. 

The Tigers won their first game in close fashion, defeating the Haverford School for Boys 3-2, and followed that up with a friendly trouncing of the Springside Chestnut Hill Blue Devils 3-0. These scores may not raise eyebrows on their own, but the first six goals of the season were scored by six different players, highlighting the wholeness and strength of the team. 

Junior right forward, Josiah Yeomans (pictured right), was not surprised by the team's early success, “At the beginning of the season, I just saw so much potential in us, and so far, we’ve been able to put it all together,” said Yeomans, who has contributed five goals and two assists this season. 

The team continued on their Inter-Ac tour tying Malvern Prep 1-1, and then, in a scoreless game, the team showed their stripes in a standoff 0-0 draw against Episcopal Academy, a huge result compared to the year before, which the Tigers lost 4-0.

The significance of this early result was not lost on junior center midfielder Jack Grodin (pictured right), “We’ve never beaten Episcopal. We’ve never even tied them,” said Grodin, “that was really cool and it just showed that we have a shot to go undefeated this season and win the Friends League.”

Germantown Friends is proud to sponsor one of the most robust Junior Varsity programs in the Friends School League. With knowledgable, dedicated coaches, JVs are not just a pathway to a Varsity roster spot– they are a team unto themselves, with their own identities, pride, and success. Particularly this JV roster has its fair share of fresh-faced ninth graders, but is glued together by a strong dedicated junior class, many of whom have played for the JV team and Head Coach Rob Goodman for three years. 

“Our coaches have been great,” said Grodin ’26. “All three of my years on JV, I’ve loved it. They make it a fun environment but we put work in every practice. The coaches always have something prepared and set up for practice, and we can put it into games and it shows.”

“We’ve got a wide variety of kids on the team,” said Goodman, “kids that are on their third year on JV plus plenty of newcomers, but they are all committed to getting better and working as a team. ” 

Fourth-year Head JV Coach Rob Goodman (pictured below with Grodin) is joined by assistant coaches James Dell and Eddy Yu.

“Rob brings high expectations to every level he coaches,” added Athletic Director Katie Bergstrom Mark. “He is an excellent teacher and coach who motivates students at each point in their athletic journey. At most schools, this caliber of coaching would only be found at the varsity level. We are committed to having our very best coach at the developmental levels.” 

The Tigers showcased their cohesion best in their final Inter-Ac match before league play against GFS’ cousin, Germantown Academy. The Tigers won 3-1, thanks to two goals by Daniel Martinez Martinez ’28 and one by Trevor Zuercher ’26. Each goal came from an assist by teammates Beckett Seideman ’28, Kiran Chennupati ’28, and Martinez Martinez. 

It speaks to the perfect blend– a critical mass of team culture has been found: athletic, committed upperclassmen who set standards and norms, combined with energetic and hungry first-year players eager to prove themselves within the program. 

After their 8-0 landslide victory over Central High School, Yeomans and Grodin reflected on the team’s ability to execute technical skills and set plays that they had practiced. It was clear with quiet confidence that the two junior leaders are shooting for perfection.

 

2024 Boys JV Soccer Results: (7-0-2) 

vs. Haverford 3-2

vs. SCH 3-0

vs. Malvern Prep 1-1

vs. Episcopal 0-0

vs. Germantown Academy 3-1

vs. Barrack Hebrew 2-1

vs. Central HS 8-0

vs. George School 5-0

vs. ANC 7-0

 

September 24, 2024