OP Varsity Soccer Takes 1st State Game

Varsity soccer played their first state tournament game Monday, October 31st. The early dismissal and hot dog stand’s set up during school hours were signs pointing to a good day for Oratory Prep.

The game kicked off with seniors in the bleachers and students lining the side of the field chanting on the team. It was a hard fought first half on both sides, but neither team was able to put one in the net, leaving the game 0-0 at the half.

The second half was twice as intense. DePaul managed to score two goals in the half, which were each countered by a goal from Arthur Kopacz. Both teams continued to battle it out until the last whistle, but no goals were scored for either side, resulting in another tying half at 2-2.

With a 2-2 tie in the end, the game was forced into overtime. Oratory continued to pound DePaul until, with 4 and a half minutes left in the game, Matthew Bopp headed the ball in to score the game-winning goal. The team then burst up and rushed to the 18-yard box jumping and celebrating.

After shaking hands with DePaul, the team rushed to the stands where they were greeted by equally elated Oratorians. Celebrations proceeded all the way from the field to the locker room and even to the parking lot where seniors sprayed canned lemonade on the celebrated players, and watched gleefully as the game-winning-goal-scorer Matthew Bopp got into the backseat of the car and was driven off.

Oratory Soccer’s #1 fan, Liam Otterbein, said, “I have never seen David Littlejohn this happy besides the morning he got to jump on a strip of bubble wrap in the gym.”

With a well-fought and triumphed state game, a crowd of supportive Rowdies, and even rumors of scouts coming for Oratory players, it was truly a glorious day for the Rams, and perhaps a foresight into what the rest of the state tournament may hold.