The Rams won against the Mount Olive Marauders 2-1 at home on Thursday, Sept. 26.

“We all felt that we played well,” senior co-captain Jayden DeCarvalho said of the match. “We had times that we couldn’t hold the ball for as long as we wanted but we did work hard and played great defense.”

“It was a hard-fought battle against a very competitive opponent, and we prevailed because we played as a collective and played hard defense,” head coach George Mousis added. “The defense won us the game.”

Before the match, the Rams had just come off of a 2-1 win against Roxbury two days prior. Randolph was looking to carry this momentum into the game and secure another win for the season.

The Rams came out with energy and put themselves on the score board early, with senior co-captain Bryan Garcia scoring on a ball passed from senior Justin Quinones.

Randolph kept up the momentum for the remainder of the half, with DeCarvalho crossing the ball to Quinones, who scored in the top corner with a header.

As the half ended, Randolph held a 2-0 lead and continued to create multiple chances on goal, including a header from junior Landon Smith. 

Even though key players, such as senior Thomas LaDieu and junior Mark Manolis, did not play due to injury, they still supported their teammates, rallying the players at halftime with an inspirational speech.

In the second half, the boys came out with renewed energy, dominating possession of the ball and playing with aggression. Junior goalkeeper Gavin Vichengrad continued to make exceptional saves with clockwork-like precision. His distribution and command of the defense were crucial aspects of the Rams’ success.

Despite it being a scoreless second half, the Rams penetrated Mount Olive’s lines and broke down the team’s morale. “Any time you go on the field it is war,” said Mousis after the game. “You must work and prove that you deserve to be on the field.”

The Rams face Mendham next, today, Monday, Oct. 1, under the lights at Mendham.