Taiwo Adeshigbin is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover BASIS Phoenix for AZPreps365.com

The BASIS Phoenix boys soccer team suffered its first loss Tuesday, falling to a more aggressive Veritas Prep team, 2-0.

The Falcons, reigning 3A state champions, shut down the high-scoring Firebirds offense, allowing them just a handful of threatening scoring opportunities. 

The Firebirds, who scored 41 goals in their first six games, were forced to defend the majority of the match. 

BASIS Phoenix coach Jules Veloria said he felt like his team played as if they didn’t want to lose.

“(At halftime) the conversation was whether they wanted to step up their attitude and their desire. I felt like every 50/50 (ball) was won by Veritas,” Veloria said. 

Veritas dominated the first half as their defenders constantly sent direct balls for their speedy attackers to run on. Firebirds goalkeeper Foster Commins was on his toes nonstop as shots came left and right the last 10 minutes.

The Firebirds managed to keep a scoreless first half, but Veritas Prep broke through, scoring two late goals. The second goal came off an error by Commins, who accidentally allowed a rolling ball to go past his gloves. 

The Firebirds are used to building their attack from the back, but the fierce Falcons team didn’t give them time on the ball, forcing many turnovers.

“A lot of times there would be too much of a gap when we would transition over from defense to offense," Veloria said. "And we would play long balls. We were playing their game, as opposed to a position-oriented attack and countering properly.” 

As the Falcons played a direct style, they took advantage of their size, particularly on their long throw-ins, with the ability to throw the ball in the 18-yard box. 

“They are a press-heavy team and we struggled to clear out the ball every time and get the ball moving,” defender Nicholas Zaharia said.
 
The Veritas Prep pressure proved to be successful in quieting BASIS Phoenix’s attack. 

“We were a little bit too impatient," Veloria said. "When we attacked properly, we were able to build up and connect and get in their final third. But whether we got a shot out of it isn’t the biggest concern. We just didn’t play well often enough.” 

One of BASIS Phoenix's dangerous attempts, from their passing, came early in the second half. When Liam Verstraet, one of their leading goals scorers, received a pass on the left flank and then played a low hard cross – with no one able to get a touch. 

This loss marks the first game the Firebirds have not scored a goal this season.

“Moving forward I think our defense can improve by making crisper passes to get it around teams, and switch sides and ultimately score more goals again," Commins said,

The Falcons (6-2) will play next at Northwest Christian (7-0-1) at 4 p.m. Thursday.

The Firebirds (6-1) will play next at Scottsdale Prep (8-1) at 6 p.m. Thursday.