LJ b soccer: Deuce

Viking players applaud the fans after their recent
win at Clairemont. (Photo by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

La Jolla's boys soccer team, not too shabby the past two seasons, tied La Costa Canyon, 2-2, in what amounted to a win in the Vikings' coaches' eyes, Thurs., Dec. 14, at LCC.

La Costa Canyon reached the semifinals of the Division I playoffs last February.

"We played really well," said La Jolla assistant coach Victor Zendejas. Senior Luis Goehler scored both goals for the visitors, who led 1-0 on the German striker's early goal, then came back to tie late in the game on Goehler's second score.

La Jolla, after a hard-earned win at Mission Bay the next day, is 4-1-1. The Vikings moved up to Division 3 for 2016-17 after garnering the Division 4 CIF title in the 2015-16 season. So, to hold a Division 1 power to a standoff is an accomplishment.

"It was tough playing back-to-back," reported Zendejas. "We had the big game at La Costa Canyon. Mission Bay was well-rested."

Battling in a 1-1 stalemate with the Bucs on their home field, the Vikings notched the winning goal late in the second half. It was their sendoff for the winter break, during which they don't compete or practice as a team. Several of the players are club team members, and this is one time during the year that they take a break.

"We don't enter tournaments during the holiday, because several of our kids travel with their families," said Zendejas previously.