The Boys Soccer team is once again battling hard against some of the toughest competition in the Conference and in South Jersey. The squad has maintained a consistent balance between their offense, defense, and goalkeeping and it has helped them become a quality soccer club. Staying underneath the radar, the team has thus far preserved a polished 8-4-1 record; an impressive record with such a difficult schedule.
To this point the Lions have had some very important wins to their credit. After the season opening tie against Eastern got the butterflies out, the Lions have played great soccer, including winning 4 out of their last 5 games.
One of the brightest moments of the season at this juncture was the outstanding win against top ranked Cherokee High School. In any sport at West, it is an accomplishment in itself to beat the tyrannical “Indian Schools.” Cherokee, always recognized as a great sports school in South Jersey, is notorious for sweeping schools throughout the  year. However this year for the Lions, the upset was completed as the Lions took down the Chiefs 2-1. The Lions played outstanding defense all game, led by the outstanding goalkeeper Sean Mullarkey. The Chiefs were simply overmatched by the swift lineup of the Lions, especially in the first half. The Lions scored both their goals in the first half: both by 2011 All Conference Junior Striker Gabe Watkins. Watkins has been one of the top scorers for the Lions this year and showed that in the upset. The win against Cherokee not only proves the Lions are a legitimate contender in the league but they proved to themselves that they were capable of playing so well.
The Lions other 7 wins came against Camden Catholic (twice; combined score of 8-0), Seneca, Paul VI, Winslow (twice) and most recently, a 1-0 win over Shawnee (Chris Blandy; the electric goal scorer, knocked in the lone goal. And of course, the defense was phenomenal). The losses have come from Eustace (twice), Timber Creek, and Washington Township (all their losses were decided by one goal).
There is still plenty of season ahead of the Lions. The Lions have crucial upcoming games against Lenape, Seneca, and of course the crosstown battle against rival Cherry Hill East on October 26th. Coach Butler and his squad are optimistic and determined to take their talents to postseason play. Gabe Watkins says, “It has been a good season and everyone has been working hard, but it’s not over yet and we got to keep pushing ourselves.”  The Lions have potential, and now is the time to use it. Let’s go Lions!