Vikings' Will Curtis (3) battles for ball in front of goal
as La Jolla frantically tries to score in compensation
time. (Photo by Ed Piper)
In a dramatic CIF boys soccer playoff game just prior to La Jolla's basketball playoff against Bishop's Tues., Feb. 24, the Vikings gave up a lone goal midway through the second half and, despite numerous late attempts, were unable to tie the match up. They fell 1-nil to the Conquistadors on their home pitch in the last game they will play on the old surface, soon to be replaced.
This is the first CIF playoff game the boys have qualified for in the last couple of years.
Fans for both sides were surprisingly vocal, much more so than fans observed at boys or girls soccer games in the past few years. And they had reason to voice their emotions: as the clock ticked down, and the referee added five minutes of compensation time, every possession seemed contested.
Serra's goalkeeper came several yards out in front of his goal multiple times in closing minutes, resulting in collisions between him and Viking offensive players. Players lay sprawled after some of the high-speed contact. Jared Roberts left the game for the Vikings after one of these incidents, seeming to rub the right side of his back.
As an observer agreed within the past week, La Jolla has plenty of talent on its boys soccer team. First-year head coach Marcos Gonzales, moved up from the junior varsity, said earlier in the season that he planned to stay next year. This would provide some of the continuity LJHS has been missing the last few years with numerous coaching changes. But Gonzales also brought on a new assistant coach after the start of the season, adding yet another adjustment for the team to make.
Jared Roberts (on ground, right) and Serra
goalkeeper 13) lie on ground after collision
late in game. Both seemed okay afterwards.
Copyright 2015 Ed Piper
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