The Wolfpack Academy came in with a dominant performance in the last two games against the Osage High School boys teams with a Game 2 tie of 8-8 and a commanding Game 3 win of 11-2. The Helias Crusader game had been rescheduled to end the season.

The Wolfpack players came into the game with much confidence and ready to take the fight to the futsal floor. Mexico players Jibran Rodriguez, Alex Rodriguez and Nathan Rodriguez, Tucker Wagner (Columbia) and Kenneth Guzman (California) took the floor.

The Wolfpack found themselves down 2-0 early. Having quality shots on goal but not dropping was partially due to a solid goalie on the floor the Jays had challenging every attempt. To add to the situation was miscues on passing and getting out of shape, not to mention transitioning.

The halftime score was 5-0 Jefferson City Jays.

Coach Chris Williamson, who coached at Mexico High School in the past, said to the team, “There is nothing special this team is doing. Reality is that we are actually beating ourselves. If we get back to the basic fundamentals of playing indoor soccer instead of the fancy no-look passing attempts, we will be right back in this game. If they can score five, why can’t we in the second half where real champions are made? Either you're gonna lay down or take them down.”

The second half would be a fierce attack of getting turnovers, playing with discipline and keeping formation shape. They also began transitioning to other formations as they moved down the floor.

Kenneth Guzman scored the first two goals, Jibran Rodriguez scored the third goal, and Mexico player Jesus Garcia scored the final two. The Jays got one goal in the second half, as it was 5-4 at the time making it 6-4. Garcia’s last goal made it 5-6. As they would line up for the final minute of play, the Jays desperately kicked the ball into rafters to kill the clock.

Williamson said the Wolfpack played an amazing second half, and the learning lesson they can take from this game is that it’s never over until you, as player and as a team, say it’s over. You have to believe that as well. 

“In the past, they have done the opposite but as a coach it’s my job to make them believe in themselves and accomplish what they thought they could accomplish,” Williamson said. “That’s something they had been lacking in the past, but they now have it and that is what counts.”

They played another Jays team on Sunday and their final game is against Helias.