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While the Jenkins boys soccer team had roared to an exciting, undefeated start to the season, enjoying unfamiliar success for those in the program, the well-established Islands Sharks went about their business.

Islands senior standout Evan Narvaez went to the GHSA state playoffs in each of his first three seasons, and 2025 promised more opportunity.

Islands' Evan Narvaez lines up his kick - Photo by Luubie Photography

“Last year we were a super-young team. I think we had three or four freshmen starting, then we lost only one senior who started,” Narvaez said. “This year we were returning a lot of pieces, so we knew we had a strong lineup.”

The Sharks opened the new slate 2-0, then fell to three squads from the Atlanta area before taking on the Region 3-3A schedule.

“We needed a challenge because we knew in the region, the floor has just raised,” Narvaez said. “We saw Jenkins started the season undefeated. We knew they were getting a lot of attention. We didn’t let that bother us. We knew what we were capable of.”

The region lead was on the line when Jenkins visited Islands on Thursday night, and the contest couldn’t have been much closer after one half. The only score was an own goal when the Warriors’ Emerson Scott unsuccessfully tried to head a throw-in from Narvaez clear of the net with 5:05 left before halftime. 

“Speaking from personal experience, everyone’s had a moment like that,” Narvaez said. “I know it’s definitely a little damaging on the spirit during a game, especially a big one like this. … we knew they would be down on that. We knew we could take advantage. The second half, we came in as hard as we did the first half and we capitalized.”

The Sharks scored four goals in the second half, including Narvaez’s two, for a decisive 5-0 shutout and their seventh consecutive victory. 

While Islands improved to 9-3 overall, 7-0 in the region, Jenkins (9-1, 6-1 region) is dealing with a loss for the first time in 2025.

Islands' goalie Wilmer Martinez with a goal kick and has recorded six shutouts on the season - Photo by Luubie Photography

“That’s where we’ve got to show mental toughness,” Jenkins head coach Moses Green said. “It was a tough game, and we focused a lot on this game to try to win the region. We’ve got to understand you can’t win them all. We’ve got to bounce back. We’ve still got a chance to make history, make it to the state playoffs, and try to get some wins that way.

“We’re trying to go as far as possible,” he added.

While the Warriors have a lot to play for, they can learn from Thursday’s loss, which actually could have been bigger. Islands junior Zach Smith’s throw-in with 7:36 left in the first half didn’t touch a player before finding the net and was waived off.

The Sharks’ Julian Roma scored 4:45 into the second half when, just over a minute later, Jack Mace appeared to make it 3-0. But that goal was disallowed because Warriors senior goalkeeper Liam McDaniel had covered the top of the ball with his hand, so it was in his possession when it was dislodged.

McDaniel injured his leg on the play and was replaced for the rest of the game by Lotfullah Fayazi. The freshman had his work cut out for him as Islands had the advantage with possession time and kept the pressure on him.

Islands coach Justin Brantley used the team’s depth to strategic success as he was able to play more midfielders, for example, to counter Jenkins’ talented starting midfielders.

Islands' JJ Stein in Full Stride! - Photo by Luubie Photography

“We’ve got four, five guys that play the same position,” Brantley said. “We constantly rotated guys in and we had fresh legs. You know in the second half, you’re playing against guys that have played a full 60 minutes going back and forth and sprinting, and our guys are fresh off the bench.”

Fayazi made a dramatic kick save with 20 minutes left to maintain a 2-0 deficit, but he wasn’t able to stop Narvaez’s booming free kick, which traveled about 50 yards in the air and into the net with 17:25 to go.

Narvaez’s bullet on goal was stopped in the next minute, but Islands took advantage of another straight-on free kick with 9:55 remaining. Alex Roma’s long boot was lofted just to the right of the net, and JJ Stein cashed in the volley for 4-0.

Narvaez said the Sharks were “a little discouraged” by the goals that didn’t count but kept playing hard and were excited to see Julian Roma and Stein record goals.

“It just kept our spirits high and kept it intense,” Narvaez said.

Narvaez wrapped up the scoring with his 24th goal this season, dribbling to the right, getting a clean look, and firing a line drive with just over 5 minutes remaining in regulation.

“The guys around (Narvaez) do a fantastic job of making sure he’s in the right spots,” Brantley said. “When we were able to swing the ball around from one side of the field to the other, it forces other teams to not be able to double-team him. It creates great opportunities where he’s 1-v.-1. He is a fantastic player.”

Islands' TJ Hapakuna-Nunuha on the Attack!  - Photo by Luubie Photography

Green, whose staff includes technical coach Samuel James, said the Sharks capitalized on their chances while the Warriors were inconsistent.
“We were making mistakes that we usually don’t make – bad passes, bad shots that are not on goal,” Green said. “Once they see the shots weren’t going in, I can tell some of my players were kind of getting antsy.

“We normally don’t force things,” he continued. “We normally don’t go fast. We’re normally just slowing, playing our pace to win the game. Once they see we were getting behind, that’s what made the score worse than what I believe it really was.”

LEAD PHOTO: #9 Islands Sid Johnson celebrating win with #11 Evan Narvaez following closely - Photo by Luubie Photography

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy luubie_shots Photography

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