By Ed Piper
Foothills Christian was in for a challenging afternoon.
In the first moments, La Jolla's forwards were in up the attack area, and the Knights' young goalie tried to clear the ball by kicking it toward one of his teammates.
A Viking, alert to the exchange, deftly stepped in, stole the ball, and launched it--unfortunately, wide to the right from short range.
He put his hands up in frustration--such a ripe fruit on a low-hanging branch.
Within minutes, teammate Tate Phillips was embroiled in a scrum in front of Foothills' goal, with several players pushing, trying to move the ball one way or the other, and number 7 planted it into the net.
4:03 1/2 p.m. La Jolla 1, Knights 0.
With that, it was like throwing meat into the water. The sharks started thrashing for more, once they tasted blood.
Viking third-year coach Pilar Flores, tending his troops, saw them advance the ball multiple times toward the red attacking zone in the next several minutes of the 30-minute half (shortened for tournament competition).
But the ball also went down toward LJ goalie Joseph Crudo at the other end, as the two teams quickly countered, re-countered. If La Jolla wasn't wise, in its attempt to score again quickly, it was in danger of giving up a goal to Foothills' quick, able midfielders and forwards.
Finally, after 22 minutes of play, Ollie Traver delivered. 2-0, La Jolla. 4:21 p.m.
A minute and a half later, Alexander Mitrovic nailed one, and La Jolla's sideline was celebrating.
Halftime seemed like a festival, with players guffawing and slapping each other on the back. They were already acting like the win was a fait accompli.
Flores' main task in the second half was keeping some heads cool: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter," he kept repeating when someone reacted to a call--or even a red card.
The Vikings won the consolation match, with the next seven days off.
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