On Tuesday, January 13, the Veterans Memorial Patriots traveled to Boerne to kick off the district season against the Champion Chargers. In a match that began with an explosive offensive highlight for the Patriots, our Patriots faced a seasoned opponent in a high-intensity environment. The Patriots entered the first half with high energy, matching the Chargers stride-for-stride in a physical, back-and-forth battle. The early pressure paid off when Yerik Gallegos delivered a perfectly placed ball to Manny Pruneda, who connected with a powerful header to find the back of the net. This clinical finish gave the Patriots an early 1-0 lead and a massive boost of momentum. As the half progressed, the Chargers began to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, netting three quick goals to swing the momentum. Despite the shift, the Patriots continued to play hard, entering the halftime break trailing 3-1. The second half mirrored the first in terms of effort, as the Patriots refused to let up. The offense created several promising looks, continuing to test the Champion defense until the final whistle. However, the Chargers’ relentless pressure eventually found gaps in the Patriot line, adding four more goals to the tally. While the match ended in a 7-1 defeat, the scoreline didn't fully capture the grit and offensive creativity shown by our players throughout the 80 minutes.