Jesuit Soccer is a National Powerhouse

The Jesuit soccer team may be undefeated this season at 8-0 and ranked No. 1 in two national polls but the Marauders know that other teams are gunning for them.

"Jesuit always has a bullseye on us," said longtime coach . "We have been a national, regional and local power for a long time."

Indeed, the Marauders are the defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division I champions and ranked No. 1 in the country in the ESPN Rise and National Soccer Coaches Association of America polls.

"I feel like we deserve the rankings," said senior goalkeeper Luca Licciardi. "We're taking it one game at a time, knowing our roles."

On Friday, Jesuit won a matchup of local powers when they defeated Granite Bay 3-2 at Capital Christian High School in Rosemont.

"That was the most pressure we've had for a game this season," junior forward Padraic McCullaugh, who scored two goals in the game, said of the packed house for the evening game. "With the hype for the game, it got intense, every tackle was hard."

Jesuit hosts American River Drive rival Rio Americano at 4 p.m. today but the schedule gets tougher. The Marauders host Davis on Sept. 23 then travel to St. Louis to play Chaminade (No. 33 in the nation in the ESPNRise poll) on Sept. 29 and DeMatha from outside Washington, D.C. (No. 2 ESPNRise) on Oct. 1 before hosting Marquette of Milwaukeee (No. 14) in Carmichael on Oct. 8.

"I don't think it is any different except when you play another team that is nationally ranked," Rose said. "The stakes are pretty high."

Furthermore, Jesuit has injuries to two players who have committed to college programs, Rose's son Jeff, an offensive mid (Seattle), and Peter Wyjda (Chico State).

"Already, players are stepping up," Licciardi said. "We're playing for all Jesuit (soccer) alumni."