Mavericks Boys Soccer Team Goes Undefeated in First Season

Editor's note: The following is a press release issued by Oswego School District 308:

In its inaugural season, the Murphy Junior High School Maverick boys soccer team went undefeated in winning the Prairie Conference. The team, coached by Cathy Kerr won all 11 matches that they played this season. 

In the regular season, the Mavericks beat the likes of Yorkville, Thompson, Traughber, Plank, Bednarcik and Sandwich. The Maverick boys had a 9 and 0 record in the regular season and earned a number one seed in the Conference Tournament.

The first conference game was against Thompson. The game was tied after regulation and the 20-minute overtime period. Thompson and Murphy faced off in penalty kicks to decide a winner. In the end, Maverick goalie Nikhil Mohanty was able to successfully defend and the Mavericks won the penalty kick shoot-out and advanced to the Conference finals against Traughber.

“It is unfortunate that the game has to come down to PKs, that puts a lot of pressure on a goalie, but someone has to win," Kerr said. "Thompson has a great team and it was a hard fought game.”

The championship match pitted the Mavericks against the Traughber Panthers.  At the end of the first half the Mavericks led 2-0. In the final period Traughber narrowed the score to 2-1. The Mavericks came back to regain their two goal advantage when Jacob Bogden broke away and blasted shot into the bottom right corner of the net. Traughber ratcheted up the pressure but the Maverick defense was steadfast. In the end the Mavericks won 3-1 and Maverick striker, Jacob Bogden, had recorded a hat trick.