Paly girls’ soccer kicked off its season with its first league game at home against last years defending Central Coast Section (CCS) champs Los Altos. Despite a strong first half, the Vikings were unable to come out with a win.
“The first half I think we dominated and I think we put away necessary goals,” Co-captain Megan Tall (‘14) said. “Then the second half we kind of fell apart and let them get their momentum back.”
The Vikings started the game quickly, scoring a goal in the first five minutes of the game. Heidi Moeser (‘16) scored the goal for the Vikings off a deflection from Katie Foug (‘15), who was assisted by a cross from Jacey Pederson (‘16).
The second goal of the half was scored by Co-captain Sunny Lyu (‘14) off another assist from Pederson with 17 minutes remaining in the half. The Lady Vikes dominated possession of the ball for a majority of the first half but the Eagles still managed to get a few shots off. The Vikings keeper Dhara Yu (‘17) was able to keep the net clear the first half.
The second half remained 2-0 until a handball was called on a Paly defender in the penalty box, 15 minutes into play. Los Altos took a penalty kick and the shot went past Yu high and to the right.
The Eagles continued to put the pressure on Paly and with five minutes remaining they tied the score 2-2.The goal was scored from a cross from the right side of the field, which hit the left goal post and a Los Altos player finished it into the net.
The last five minutes intensified but neither team was able to claim the victory. Head Coach Kurt Devlin reflected on how the Lady Vikes played.
“Going into halftime we had the game in hand and then that one call for the penalty changed things around and the other team had more momentum and it was a whole new game,” Devlin said. “It didn’t go our way.”
Pederson with two assists for the night, thinks the team needs to work on a few things to prepare for the next game and to pull out a win.
“I think we are going to really need to focus on keeping the ball, providing more options in the middle and also defending free kicks and throw-ins in our half,” Pederson said.
The Lady Vikes will travel to Monta Vista High School for its next game this at 3:30 p.m.
