Boys’ soccer overcomes injuries to key players

Senior forward Tim Kobara knew his season was over as soon as his shin made contact with the opposing player’s cleat. He couldn't move and saw his leg was bending in the middle

“My leg felt numb and wouldn’t move with me,” Kobara said. “That’s when I knew it was broken.”

Kobara lay in the grass and covered his face with his hands, knowing that his final soccer season had ended prematurely —  

He was injured at the game against Cupertino on Jan. 5, only the second league game of the season, which ended in a 1-1 score.

Kobara was  making a run through the defense to try to beat the goalkeeper to the ball. The goalkeeper stuck his cleats up in a dangerous tackle that snapped Kobara’s tibia (shin bone) in the middle.  

“It’s sad, especially because it’s his senior year,” senior defender Chris Auches said. “But we’re thinking of it as ‘let’s win for Tim’ and ‘let’s make CCS for Tim.’”

Besides Kobara, another key injured player is junior midfielder Jules Ducrot, who ruptured his ACL and tibia and is out for the year.

As of Jan. 29, the team had an El Camino league record of 5-1-1. The Falcons face tough matchups against Gunn on Feb. 2 and league-leading Lynbrook on Feb. 9 during their Senior Night. They need to continue their winning ways in order to qualify for CCS and secure their position in the league as the first or second seed.

Even with the loss of these crucial players, however, the team has excelled defensively, with a goal differential of 14 — the best in the league. The boys have won four of their six games so far, allowing just one goal while scoring 13.

Team captain Solomon Bailey, a senior forward, said a CCS berth is a strong possibility if they keep playing well.

Regardless of the performance of the team, however, the injury of certain players have changed their future in regards to soccer.

“My injury was especially disappointing because, as one of the few players that played club, I spent the whole summer and fall club season getting prepared to have my best high school season ever,” Kobara said. “I wasn’t going to return to club, but I don't want my soccer career to end like this so I am going to try to pursue playing in college, which I wasn't going to do before.”