LJ g soccer 2, UC 1

Vike goalie Vanessa Shaffer (purple jersey) ranges

far out from the goal to make a spectacular stop

in the first half. (Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

"The last three games, it has been clicking," said Kristin Jones, the La Jolla girls soccer coach, before her team's game versus University City Tues., Feb. 9.

And she wasn't kidding. With forward Phoebe Riley back after struggling with a right ankle injury since mid-2015, the Vikings looked like a completely different team in the game held at Cathedral Catholic High School, even though it was a La Jolla home game, due to the ongoing stadium construction.

La Jolla looked confident, and was attacking. Riley looked like her old self, despite wearing a black brace on her right ankle that was visible above her shoe. In early action near the La Jolla sideline, she was aggressive to and with the ball. She didn't show any visible hesitance or tentativeness. She didn't appear to favor the ankle in any way. Jones removed her for a break late in the first half, but that is the normal rotation.

By then, the Vikings were leading 1-0 on a goal by freshman Chloe Alexander in the 25th minute. The forward had a right-footed kick from the left side past UC goalie Ava Dorvillier, who is a sophomore.

La Jolla went on to win 2-1 after Emma McCall-Delgado scored to break a 1-1 tie in the second half under 85-degree conditions.

Senior Jessica Hammond scored UC's lone goal.

"The problems we had have almost taken care of themselves," said the coach. "It almost feels like a new season." In earlier games, the Vikings had hit a point of having a crisis of confidence, showing a lack of aggressiveness and really having no punch on offense.

In shining in the record February heat off Highway 56, La Jolla notched only its third win this season. Its power ranking, with Riley out, dropped the Vikings to probably close to a record low, for them, of 19th in Division I. The team has the fewest wins in the division.

Regarding goalie Vanessa Shaffer's play--she was active, coming far out from the box to intercept a UC attacker in the first half--Jones said, "She's been our MVP, easily. She's been improving every game. The girls have confidence in her."

"Fearless" was a word that was spoken on the sideline after the converted field player's hell-bent-for-leather stop.

La Jolla is now 1-3-2 in the Western League, 3-10-2 overall.