The Ripon High Boys Varsity Soccer Team has been putting a lot of effort this season, and it showed during their game against Hilmar High. The match was competitive and exciting from the beginning, with both teams playing hard and staying focused throughout the night. From the start, it was clear that neither team was going to give up easily.
The game took place on Friday, January 23, 2026, with Ripon facing Hilmar in a close matchup. In the first half, both teams played strong and stayed even with each other. Ripon and Hilmar each scored one goal, keeping the game tied going into halftime. The energy on the field stayed high, and the crowd was excited knowing the game could go either way.
A goalie from RHS boys soccer, Armin Grewal, said, “For the next game, I would like to improve on communication with my teammates, especially, when a lot of us play on the different level, it’s good to be on the same page.”
Ripon came out strong in the second half and scored a goal within the first five minutes, which really excited the Ripon crowd. The team looked confident and played with a lot of intensity, trying to keep the momentum in their side. The game stayed close, and Ripon continued to fight to protect their lead. 
However, in the final ten minutes of the game, Hilmar scored two quick goals that changed everything. Those goals gave Hilmar the lead and ended up deciding the match. Even though Ripon tried to respond and pushed hard until the final whistle, they were unable to score again.
A junior, Chris Armanious, on the boys soccer team, said, “I think that team work and dedication is super important, because if you’re not dedicated to giving it your all out there, we’re gonna be nowhere near the way we should be.” Despite the loss, “We all stayed motivated because honestly, the season’s been a bit rough, been a bit down, so this hasn’t been the case many times, but I think our minds have changed and we’ve kind of matured out of it,” said Armanious.
The game ended with Ripon losing by one goal, but the effort from the team stood out. The players gave their best, worked together, and never stopped trying. Even though the loss was tough, Ripon showed determination and heart, proving how close the win really was. Be sure to come out and support the Ripon High boys soccer team as they continue their season.
