Wilcox Chargers

What makes a good rivalry?

Girls’ Varsity Soccer:

               Wilcox vs. Santa Clara

1)      It MUST be competitive.  The rivalry should have close games.  Streaks are possible, but if one team wins too often it becomes lopsided.  Lopsided rivalries only hold importance to the loosing team; the winning team will stop seeing it as a rivalry.



2)  The coaches/team must take it personally.  On the last Santa Clara vs. Wilcox game played on January 12, 2009, Santa Clara was counting on a “for sure victory” since regular time had expired and they were up 1-0. In overtime a Santa Clara player savagely tackled midfielder Michelle Watts and fractured her collar bone. The player got ejected from the game and the result of the foul was a beautiful goal by junior Annie Wiegman from a well taken direct free kick which tied the score and fell on Santa Clara like a cold bucket of water. NOW THAT'S A RIVALRY!  That incident took the game to the next level and paved the way for a very intense and competitive game to be played on February 4^th, 2009 at Santa Clara. What will be at stake? Not a league title, not the three points for the win, but PRIDE, bragging rights for the rest of the season.



3)  The fans take it to the next level.  If the fans don't match the teams’ intensity, then the rivalry will go unnoticed and will flame out.  The fans will stoke the flames of the rivalry for years to come. The Chargers and the Bruins have played some very good and close games. Last season the Chargers beat Santa Clara back to back, 3-1 at Santa Clara and 1-0 at Wilcox. The Chargers ended the season with a 7-3-2 record, one point away from Cupertino for the league title. Santa Clara on the other hand ended the season with a 2-6-4. Both schools always play to win and a tie or a loss is never an option. Both teams have strong school pride and identification with the team and school. Both coaches love the game and always instill on their players, competitiveness and pride for the school colors. Whatever happens on February 4^th, 2009 will carry on to the 2009-2010 season and the rivalry will go on and on to future generations.

By Coach Javier Rodriguez