By Ed Piper
The Viking girls are writing a new script for the end of their soccer season.
La Jolla did not get its first win until last month.
Coach Kristin Jones' squad only managed one victory in Western League play, and four total wins overall.
For much of the season, offensive standout Phoebe Riley and defensive stalwart Jesse Penner were sidelined by injuries.
But finally, with Riley again playing regularly and Penner dressed and available, and neither host Bonita Vista nor the Vikings able to score for 95 minutes, Emma McCall-Delgado kicked in a feed in close from Charlie Davey after a cross from Phoebe to take home a 1-0 first-round victory in the CIF Division 1 playoffs Tues., Feb. 23.
"It was terrifying and exciting," said McCall-Delgado. "I thought I missed. I thought I hit it over (the goal). I'll admit it."
The goal came five and a half minutes into a single 15-minute overtime period after neither team managed to score through two periods. Riley brought the ball up the visitor sideline before sending a cross Davey's way for her back post run.
McCall-Delgado was asked if she had had a more exciting goal. "Not recently," she said. She mentioned a goal against Clairemont, but said this one was much more important, considering it won a playoff game.
Goalie Vanessa Shaffer recorded the shutout for the Vikings.
La Jolla was awarded the 11th seed in the bracket off its low power ranking, the Barons the sixth seed. With the upset, the Vikings now earn the right to face Point Loma, the three seed which had a first-round bye, on the Pointers' home field Fri., Feb. 26.
In their previous encounter, the Vikings lost 1-0 to Point Loma in a Western League game Dec. 17.
The game in Bonita was La Jolla's first one all season on natural grass, "the first time in a couple of years," according to Jones. She voiced some concern before the game about "the playing conditions", as she termed them. The Bonita Vista field is uneven and hard-packed, causing some high bounces in the game. "If we can get through the first 10 minutes, with the nerves and the playing conditions, we'll be fine," she said.
In addition, though Riley has now played the last three weeks, midfielder Trisha Turner was going through the concussion protocol after sustaining one Thursday at Coronado and has not been released to play. "We're optimistic about (her playing) Friday," said her coach.
"We're a little weak in the midfield," said Jones of Turner's inactive status. Also unavailable to play was defender Grace Dessert.
Penner did not play, though Jones said before the game she might insert the tall veteran defender as the game progressed.
McCall-Delgado's shot, a right-footer from close range rising as it arched into the middle of the net, was a "golden ball"--the first goal scored in the overtime, making it the game-ender.
If neither team had scored in the overtime, it would then have moved to a "FIFA shootout", as the lead official called it, with five players from each team alternating kicks until a conclusion.
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