The St. Joseph Catholic School boys soccer team made it all the way to the state championship game last season for the first time in school history.
Now, the Fighting Irish are rounding into form to make another run to history.
On Thursday night, St. Joseph defeated the visiting Regents School of Oxford 3-1. The Irish goals were scored by Jay Chow, Greg Fore and Javion Byers.
The Irish took a 1-0 lead into halftime. Regents then tied the game up with 20 minutes left in the game before St. Joseph quickly responded with two straight goals in the next few minutes.
“The best part of the team is the effort that we give,” St. Joseph coach Robby Greco. “Tonight we had a couple shots on goal. In the past, we might have gotten down on ourselves for not making those shots. Tonight’s game, we had a lot more shots on goal. For us, our boys play hard when they know it is coming down to the wire.”
The Irish are led this season by seniors like Greg Fore, Chris Mayfield, Jacob Venuti and Mikael Jones.
Sophomore Victor Baker has been St. Joe’s biggest offensive weapon while Mayfield and Arnuti help to man the defense.
Venuti has been playing soccer for St. Joseph since the seventh grade. He started playing soccer in Greenville when he was even younger.
Unlike many of their opponents, the Irish had a late start to the season because its football team won the state championship. While other teams have played 16 games, the Irish have played only nine.
“It was a slow start for us,” said Venuti. “We lost some key players from last year’s team. and we have had to work on our chemistry.
“But, when it is time to play lights out soccer, we are going to show up and play. Last year, when it was time to play lights out soccer, we showed up and made it to the state championship. This year we plan to win it.”
Being a part of the St. Joseph soccer team has meant so much to Venuti, a team co-captain.
“To be a St. Joseph soccer player is to part of a family. In fact, just being at St. Joe period is to be a part of a family. When you are surrounded by these guys and this team that loves you, it is something special. I have played this sport for a very long time. It is going to be hard to leave these guys behind my senior year.”
