LJ b soccer 2, Lincoln 0

The Vikings' Miles Matalon, a senior
back, works toward midfield in the
second half of La Jolla's 2-0 win
at Lincoln. (Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The senior referee instituted a scorched-earth policy of no tolerance on players' language and complaints, and La Jolla's soccer team basically laid out an attack of taking no prisoners as Marcos Gonzales' squad blanked host Lincoln, 2-0, in a key second-round match in the Eastern League Wed., Jan. 31.

"It was a tough match, and we needed this to position ourselves for a place in the CIF playoffs," said captain Marco Furlanis afterward.

Striker Luis Goehler deposited the Vikings' first goal in the back of the net midway through the first half for a 1-0 lead. In the second half, Joe Wineman doubled the lead with a shot with 34 and a half minutes left in regulation. Those two goals stood up for the win.

Said senior right backfielder Miles Matalon, "Recently, we've been struggling, so we needed to win this to keep our hopes alive for the CIF playoffs. Everyone wants to be a part of that."

La Jolla is now 1-2-2 in league, just above cellar-dweller Lincoln at 1-3-1. The match-up was the first game of the second half the conference schedule. Hoover stands atop the Eastern League standings at 4-1, followed by Crawford at 1-1-3 and San Diego High at 1-1-2.

Among other issues, "We've had problems at goalie," said Viking assistant Victory Zendejas before the match. La Jolla reinserted Kevin Mojica, who was in goal earlier in the season, for the Lincoln game and he recorded a blank sheet, including two diving saves in the last five minutes.

"Ochoa! Ochoa!" his teammates called out from the visitors' bench on each of the saves, referring to Mexican star goalie Guillermo Ochoa.