Vike defender Sydney Davey (18) contests a ball
against Islanders' Trudie Nixon in the first half.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
By Ed Piper
La Jolla overcame a 1-nil deficit in the first half to pull into a draw with host Coronado, 2-2, in the two teams' Western League finale Thurs., Feb. 18.
The Vikings, playing much of the season without their offensive leader, Phoebe Riley, salvaged a berth in the CIF Division 1 playoffs beginning Tues., Feb. 2 with the tie.
After the hosts scored with 16:42 left in the first half to take a 1-nil lead, Riley came back two minutes later to punch the ball with her right foot into the far right side of the goal and bring La Jolla even. The half ended 1-1.
Earlier, the senior missed with another right-footed kick in the eighth minute of the game that went wide left.
The forward took another ball in the 11th minute out front of the offense but was called offside. Phoebe had a clear path to the goal.
Viking coach Kristin Jones wanted her team to gain the offensive early by attacking and getting corner kicks.
At 26:59 left on the scoreboard in the half, La Jolla goalie Vanessa Shaffer knelt to secure a Coronado shot with both arms.
Riley said her right ankle, while still having some tenderness, feels "better" after an injury she suffered in mid-2015. She was active and played most of the half, as she usually does when she is healthy.
Midfielder Trisha Turner was involved in a collision in the first half and walked off the field on her own power, accompanied by the Coronado trainer.
Turner went to the hospital before the end of the game and said she sustained a concussion, missing school the next day, Friday. During the weekend, she said that her headaches had gotten better, though she was still considering staying home from school Monday.
Left defender Sydney Davey, before the game, attributed La Jolla's good play recently to confidence and familiarity among the players. "I think our confidence went up," said the senior, who plans to enroll at USD and play soccer next year. "Plus we've been playing together for a while."
When asked about this being her last regular season game in high school, the defender said, "Oh, I'm going to play in college." She didn't miss a beat. She was taking a breather to answer a reporter's questions while her teammates continued pregame warm-ups.
What does she try to keep in mind while playing her position on defense? "When I don't have the ball, I do a lot of talking," she said, communicating with teammates to coordinate play.
What does she consider a strong point of her game individually? "I can see the whole field. I feel like I'll play the best ball" (getting it to the teammate in the best position).
Meanwhile, Harrison Riley, 10, Phoebe and Olivia Riley's brother, helped Jones on the sideline. Their mother, Charlotte, laughing, said of her son, "He really feels he has an important position on the team."
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