THE TIME IS NOW

4/19/2024

GIRLS WIN IN DEBUT

4/9/2024

The match concluded under intense rain, so Coach Blanco, along with the SIFC coach, decided to end the friendly with a penalty shootout instead of going into extra time. Emma returned to her position as goalkeeper and was decisive, saving three out of four SIFC penalties. Zoe and Elsa scored their shots, and our girls celebrated a well-deserved victory that we hope will be the first of many in the future.

FINAL FOUR SPOT,SECHURE

4/9/2024

Our boys secured another victory, the third consecutive one, after defeating SIFC by a shattering 10-0. It must be said that SIFC visited us with several injuries on their roster, and a few players that were participating in the league for the first time, especially in defense.

The match didn't have much of a story: Darren scored the first goal ten seconds into the game after an error by the visiting center-back, who lost control of the ball inside their own area after the initial kickoff, leaving it at Darren's feet to score 1-0. The goals kept coming one after another, and the halftime score was already 6-0 (Darren x2, Christiano x2, Peter x2).

The second half began with numerous changes, and Tiger, Ethan, Shunyu, and Tony Li replaced Christiano, Harry, Darren, and Peter. In this second half, Rex, Kevin, and Tony Li also scored their goal, which was added to the unfortunate own goal scored by a defender.

With this victory, our boys secure a spot in the end-of-month Final Four, and they will close out the regular season by visiting Merchiston next Thursday.

4/3/2024

Harry Peng is the captain of our HS Boys Team. After a very productive season with the basketball team (obtaining a bronze medal after being four seconds away from reaching the final), he is doing his best to obtain a second medal in a single year, an unprecedented success in RDFIS history.

In this short week with no games, Harry has been keen on sharing his views about the current moment of our soccer team now that we have reached mid-season.

- How does the team feel after the win against SCIE? Are you guys confident about making it into the Final Four?

- "Undoubtedly, we are excited about the chance to make it into the playoffs. From a disappointing defeat at the beginning of the season, to a victory via penalties, to our recent overwhelming win against SCIE, each step has shown our growth and progress. The joy of winning goes beyond mere scoring. It is a recognition of our effort and team spirit. This journey has made us realize that as long as we stick to our tactical plans and training, any goal is possible. These three matches have proven that we are on par with other strong teams in the league, and showcasing our resilience and adaptability. Looking ahead to the playoff, we are confident and determined. We clearly understand that each game presents a new challenge, but we are ready to face them, fighting for the ultimate victory."

- The soccer season is shorter than the basketball season, Is there enough time for training and improving? In which area do you see that the team has got better?

- "One of the advantages of the shorter soccer season, due the reduced number of teams participating in the league compared to basketball, is the additional time it provides for training and improvement. During this extended preparation phase, I've noticed significant improvements in two primary areas:

The first is our tactical knowledge of the game. We have committed to intense practices to ensure every team member is aware of their duties and tasks in different positions. This approach not only boosts individual abilities but also enhances our team's effective implementation of strategies in games.

The second area of improvement is our mental strength. While many players excel during regular training, the pressure of playing league games can affect them and make them perform at a lower level. Acknowledging and working on this gap has been vital. We have talked and worked on remaining calm during games and controlling our emotions, allowing players to stay focused on the game despite the intensity of a league match."

-  In both teams, basketball and soccer, you play a key role. Which sport do you feel better playing? Do you contribute in both teams in the same way, or you do different things?

- "Both basketball and soccer hold a very special place in my heart. Though I am deeply passionate about both, if I have to choose only one, my choice would be soccer. The reason is simple, because I see a lot of room for improvement in soccer for myself . In both teams, I like to and try to show a leadership role, not just motivating my teammates by setting an example during the matches but also stepping up in crucial moments to lead the team forward. This leadership is not just verbal but is more about action and demonstrating versatility on the field. Whether it's on the soccer field or the basketball court, I always aim to maintain a balance between defense and offense, requiring an understanding of the game and having the ability to adjust tactics depending on the moment of the game. To summarize, I think I contribute to both teams in almost the same way."

- As a Captain, what's your responsibility with your teammates? And your relationship with the coaches?

- "As the team captain, my role is challenging. I'm responsible for maintaining good relationships with my teammates while upholding my authority to preserve team discipline and atmosphere. I also act as a liaison between the team and our coaches, ensuring open communication and mutual respect. Balancing these aspects can be difficult, but I'm satisfied with how I've managed so far. My relationship with the coaches is based on trust and cooperation, aiming to align team strategies and address any issues collaboratively, ultimately striving for our collective success."

- How do you see the rest of the season going? Any prediction about our team's performance?

- "Pessimistically and objectively: At least, top three. Optimistically and subjectively: we will be the champions! I believe that with our dedication and strength, our performance will definitely get better and better, and our playing will become more and more mature."

3/28/2014

Our boys secured a crucial victory in the match against SCIE. In a short regular season, with few teams participating, each game can make the difference between reaching the Final Four or not, and this match was marked in red on the calendar by both teams.

SCIE took to the field with the intention of controlling ball possession and building plays from the back, which gave them the first chances to open the scoring. Harry, Peter, and Christiano showed dominance in the disputes, and Kevin and Tony Zhang tried to create plays from the wings. Tony Li's entry changed the dynamics of the game slightly, and he had the first opportunity for our boys to open the scoring, with the visiting goalkeeper saving his shot from the box.

RDF took advantage of two strategy plays on the brink of halftime to open up a gap in the score board. In two corner kicks, first Peter put his foot in at the near post, and then an unfortunate SCIE player put the ball into his own net, putting the score at 2-0. Our boys had done the hardest part.

Those two goals hit SCIE like a cold shower, and they found themselves conceding a third goal after a great individual play by Christiano, who scored with a low shot, close to the post, after dribbling past two opponents from our own half of the field. Christiano himself could have sealed the match in a similar play, but he was too individualistic when Darren and Harry were in better positions to shoot.

With the score at 3-0, coaches Goran and Rain made changes to the team: Rex, Ethan, and Shunyu played good minutes and maintained competitiveness during the second half. SCIE reduced the gap with seven minutes remaining, and they came close to adding excitement to the match, as they had two clear chances to make it 3-2, which ultimately did not happen.

With this victory, RDF is on the verge of qualifying for the Final Four, which could be confirmed with a win against SIFC, also at home, on April 9th.

EXPLOSION OF JOY

3/14/2024

First victory of the season for our boys after a dramatic penalty shootout in which we had to wait until the tenth shot to name the winner. All the tension of the match and the extra time exploded with that last shot from VMA that went sky-high, and our players celebrated the victory with the rest of the school's students on the same field.

While the excitement reached its peak, the gameplay displayed by both teams was far less spectacular. VMA focused on sending long balls into our area from their own goal kick, with no intention of playing the ball. Our players were influenced by this trend, although Christiano, Kevin, and Darren were able, occasionally, to bring some pause and control to the game, weaving good combinations to create danger in attack.

Both goalkeepers were key in maintaining the initial 0-0, as the victory was for whoever could score a single goal. Both the visiting goalkeeper and Austin were providential and showed tremendous reflexes in shots from short distances.

After the final 0-0, the extra time continued with the same dynamic, with players from both sides exhausted and giving everything for the penalties. Harry missed our first shot, but Christiano, Kevin, and Darren put us ahead after two saves from Austin. Tony could have sealed the game, but the visiting goalkeeper guessed his intentions, and we had to wait for the last shot, which went over the crossbar, to celebrate the victory (celebrated more effusively by Coach Rain than by Coach Goran).