In 2024, the Auburn Riverside boys soccer team won just four games the entire season on the soccer field. In 2025, the Ravens have won six games and clinched a playoff spot with a 3-1 win over Kennedy Catholic on May 2.

“I got a really good core group that really wants to work their butts off — you can see it. They are fun to watch, they want the postseason and they have been listening,” Manager Randy Jones said.

The Ravens are playing their best soccer of the year and are on a three-game winning streak for the first time since April 2022. On the current win streak, wins have come over Kentridge (2nd NPSL), Kentwood (7th NPSL) and now Kennedy.

“Everything has been working the last six games that for the first time all season, I can really and confidently say we are going to win. It’s just clicking. I don’t know how else to describe it,” said Jones.

He complimented his captains, Daniel Hernandez and Raef MacNeill, for the team’s turnaround in mentality and play on the field.

“My two captains are just incredible, the best I have ever had. They are just the workhorses,” Jones said.

The turnaround and late momentum comes from a tactical change that Jones implemented during the last week of April. The Ravens went from a back four to a back three, giving more space for wing backs to move up and down the pitch.

“We switched from a four back to three back, so now we have more players up field to make plays,” Taylor Paris said.

Paris, a sophomore, was named player of the match by Jones, and the center back played a mistake-free game.

“One of the things I have been emphasizing with them is having consistency in your play. I’m old school and know defense wins championships. He’s the only one that will never take a risk. He plays it smart and safe. I’m really trying to emphasize that in postseason, that risk thing is what we all need to do,” Jones said.

The back three dominated and frustrated the Lancer attack. In the first half, Auburn Riverside didn’t allow a single shot on goal. Kennedy managed two in the second half, with one finding the back of the net with 15 minutes left in the game.

“I’ll die for my defense. I love defending the goal, it is so fun,” said Paris.

Heading into the game, Auburn Riverside knew what was on the line. A win or draw sealed postseason soccer. A loss opened the door for Kennedy to make it interesting, but the Ravens slammed that door shut in the first half.

Robert Dalton sent a ball over the top of the Lancer defense and found the foot of Eric Romero. Dalton took a touch around the Kennedy keeper — his shot was blocked by a defender, but Aiden Marcianiak followed up for the opening goal in the 20th minute.

Before fans could sit back down, the Ravens were threatening for their second goal of the game. With the ball at the foot of junior Guilexander Barajas, good things tend to happen, and the right foot of Barajas hit the ball off the post and into the back of the net.

“It was our plan to get goals early to strike some fear in them. After that third goal, we knew we could settle in a little more after that,” said Paris.

The two goals back-to-back gave the Ravens time to breathe and sent a jolt of confidence through the side that tied 1-1 against the Lancers back on April 7.

Over the three-game win streak, scoring goals hasn’t been a problem for the Ravens. Outside of a 2-0 loss to Tahoma, from April 18 to May 2, the Ravens have averaged 2.6 goals per game.

“The changes we had to make to compete against them worked so well. We didn’t win that game, but it was a great game. Then it was like, let’s keep going with those changes because you guys are clicking,” Jones said.

The third goal of the game came from senior Cooper Tang in the 50th minute. Tang got on the end of a cross and put the game out of reach for Auburn Riverside.

As winners of four of their last five, the one loss in that span to Tahoma showed progress in the right direction.

“We fit into the role that we are playing. Even though we didn’t win, we definitely felt a turning point from there,” Paris said.

The Ravens now have a chance to exorcise more demons as they can win their fourth straight game against Stadium on May 6. Stadium beat Auburn Riverside 2-1 on April 9 at Riverside earlier this season.

“We are going to walk into that with a chip on our shoulder, definitely going to put it to them,” Paris said.

But with a new mentality and new momentum, the Ravens are looking to end the season on their longest winning streak since they went to state that same 2022 season.