LJ g soccer: Game story 1/6

LJ sophomore Lily Piehl looks

for a passing lane as she moves

the ball upfield in the first

half, the game still scoreless.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla's girls soccer squad dropped a disappointing 2-1 decision at San Dieguito Academy Tuesday evening, Jan. 6, after taking the lead on the first goal of the game, senior Caroline Bruner's header midway through the first half.

But Coach Austin Mobley's girls have a lot more to think about this week, as they play Thursday and Friday--the latter at crosstown rival Bishop's--before opening City League play next week.

The Mustangs came right back after Bruner's goal to score the equalizer on senior Lea Erseg's kick from the right.

The winning tally came with only 5:35 left in regulation time, courtesy of sophomore Riley Vicknair, hence the disappointment after a closely-pitched match.

SDA controlled the ball on their attacking half noticeably more than the Vikings in the first half. La Jolla balanced that out for much of the second half, before giving up the decider.

In any case, the local unit is light-years ahead of last year's squad, which failed to win a league match and won only one game all season in 16 decisions (with six ties). Many of the same players are back, but a year older and maturing in their abilities.

Midfielder Bowie Kerch, Sam Woolf, and Zara Fasbinder, all freshmen, have been valuable additions. Cries of "Bowie!" were heard throughout Tuesday's game, urging her to sprint upfield to receive yet another pass to the right side in the offensive half.

"I don't know if you heard, but tomorrow (Wed.) we have a light workout," said Bruner at the conclusion. "We're going to take ice baths. Stretching." That's how Mobley and gang are going to deal with this week's heavy game schedule.

Thursday's game this week is against Steele Canyon at home. The Vikings (Division 2) open league at home next Thurs., Jan. 15, against the SDHS Cavers.