From Kenya to Washington State, and, specifically, Thomas Jefferson High School, it's been an easy transition for studying-abroad student Jimmy Oganga, who is a native African and now a scoring striker on the Raiders boys soccer team.

He provided the game's only roar (goal) in the first half that gave his team the eventual victory, 1-0, over Kentlake in boys soccer action at French Field in Kent Tuesday.

Both's opener and ever without their coach, Dave Hanson, away for three weeks, and, his son, Chase, the Oganga offensive was ready to supplant the missing star and coach of the Raiders.

Good game, Jimmy, giving your team the offense that was needed to keep this game untied. How's that feel to have scored the winning -- and only -- goal in this game?

"It was good," said Oganga, in somewhat broken English who said then, "I still learning English."

Well, the TJ school's intensive International Baccalaureate program, a.k.a. "IB," is quite a transition, surely, for Oganga, but if soccer can be any indication, then Oganga is going to be helpful to this team's chances to progress farther than falling one game shy of state, in districts, last season.

Tyler Manthie, a junior captain for the Raiders, was asked if the maroon and gold has a good base from last season?

The answer to that was simple.

"No."

"Not many back," said Manthie, whose team won the South Puget Sound League North Division last season before bowing out before state's round of 16 teams went for all the marbles.

Well, so, how many lost?

"Nine graduated," said Kim Duke, filling in for Hanson who said he used to mentor Dave Hanson when he was a kid. Duke's grandson is on the team, too, so it's really a fatherly type relationship core leading this Raiders team.

So, what will make you better than last year if so many were lost to graduation, Tyler?

"Well, we got Jimbo (Oganga) here. He will definitely help us a lot," said Manthie.

Chase Hanson is a junior this season but has been center midfield playing for the Raiders since he was a freshman, so his experience is just another year out there. Hanson was a first-team all-SPSL selection last season and led his team with assists.

So, Jimbo, Chase, are going to help and Manthie -- who is one of the returning (third year) starters. And, also, the other captain on this Raiders team is Carson Wright, who anchors the backline as the team's sweeper. He is going to be of great assistance, time and again, making nice plays with his head in the 18-yard-box, clearing Kentlake threats and crosses.

Wright takes over for last year's sweeper, Lenin Ramirez, who was solid back there. Also, a defensive stalwart for TJ should be Christian Toscano, who played in front of Wright some of this game and Toscano will be a good presence defensively for the Raiders it looks like.

The season is early and this game was a win for the Raiders. That was good. The shots on goal were plentiful for the Raiders in the first half, but the Falcons came out more energized after halftime to control the play more even though the Raiders did outshoot the Falcons, 4-1, in the second half. The Falcons' lone shot was in the first minute of the second half, too, so Wright and company were very stingy defensively back there.

What is the goal of this team?

No easier way to answer that question than listening to the Raiders do their cheer after this win over Kentlake....

"Win," they said altogether, hands in a circle, afterward, loudly chanting the word.

That really is what it is all about isn't it?

"Win," said Manthie, "Yeah, that is our motto."