The Palo Alto High School girls’ soccer team (5-6-1, 2-2-1) was defeated 2-1 by Los Altos High School (3-2-5, 2-2-2) today, tightening the race for supremacy in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
The first half was a deadlock for both teams. The Lady Vikes saw little success in creating good shot opportunities, and struggled to capitalize with consistently strong field position.
“We have things to work on, and it’ll take time,” Duke-bound goalie Alex Kershner (‘11) said. “But I’m not worried about that, because we have the heart and that’s something you can’t teach.”
Late in the first half, the Eagles managed to push the ball down the field, looking for a shot. Off a high cross from the right side over the goalie box, forward Julia Goupil (‘14) took a quick shot, kicking it just over the outreached hands of Kershner, into the back of the net. Paly went into halftime down by a score of 1-0.
The Lady Vikes came out after the break with a new energy, keeping the ball on the Eagles’ side of the field for the majority of the half. Paly forced an early passback, but could not capitalize on the indirect free kick. Shortly after, the Eagles broke down the sideline, and crossed the ball to the middle of field. The Paly defense had problems communicating, and Eagles forward Sasha Pchenitchnikova (‘12) got a clean shot on goal, only to miss wide left.
As time winded down, Paly finally found an opening when forward Jordan Smith (‘13) drove aggressively down the right sideline toward the goal. The Los Altos defense managed to steal the ball away from Smith, but on their attempt to clear it, Viking forward Gracie Cain (‘11) intercepted the kick, and flicked the ball over Eagles goalie Alejandra Maldonado for a goal, tying the score at 1-1.
“We finished the game very aggressively, but we should’ve started that way,” Paly head coach Ernesto Cruz said.
Unfortunately for the Lady Vikes, the Eagles bounced right back. Los Altos managed to sneak the ball past Viking defender Helen Butler (‘11) to Isabelle Lefebvre (‘13). Lefebvre took a shot, but Kershner charged and blocked it away, only to have another Los Altos attacker follow up the deflection and sink the game-winning goal with only three minutes left to play.
The Eagles proceeded to ‘burn the clock’ as the Lady Vikes tried to mount a comeback. Paly had expected additional time to be added to the clock due to Los Altos’ delay tactics, but saw the referees end the game after regulation.
“We’ve got to work hard and stay positive,” Cruz said. “There are no weak teams in our league.”
The Lady Vikes will faceoff against Mountain View High School at home on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
