Saturday Nov. 19 was a cool, blustery afternoon for the 1st round of the California Community College Athletics Association (CCCAA) Women’s soccer playoffs.
The conditions were ideal for a soccer match.
The recipe for excitement was further stoked by the intensity with which the Vikings played 110 strong minutes. DVC came away victorious 1-0, but the lone tally of the match would not arrive until the overtime halves.
In a physical competition, DVC seemed lax in their responses to the probing offense of Sierra College, but halfway into the first half the Vikings seemed to regain their momentum and began playing Viking soccer.
“Were a possession team,” said Coach Cailin Mullins. “We sort of let them fool around a bit in the early minutes, but I think we did a great job of settling down and being patient for the rest of the match.”
Patient, indeed, as the Vikings remained vigilant in their possessions by making smart, crisp passes that exposed spatial advantages in Sierra’s defense.
DVC maintained discipline in their tackling and composure in the wake of an extremely aggressive Sierra team. A pair of malicious fouls that resulted in a red card and an ejection against Sierra with two minutes remaining in the first half would prove to be an advantage for DVC.
The game was riddled with fouls, which in most soccer matches is not always relative, but in this case it was a direct barometer of the conflict at hand. Playing smart soccer means that players often have to put themselves at hazard to keep possession, and the Vikings were unwavering in their dedication to each other.
For the majority of the match, the ball was kept in Sierra’s end, and any attempts on the Viking’s goal were thwarted with swift enthusiasm. The sturdy defensive garrison allowed for the midfielders and halfbacks to advance forward and lend their services to an anxious and determined offense.
However, in the dying breathes of the match, neither team could capitalize and the final verdict confirmed what the spectators already knew, that this match was headed to extra time.
It would be Wendy Margarin who would provide the final act in the drama when her shot rang true for the Vikings with 8 minutes left in the first overtime half.
It was a difficult struggle, but the Vikings kept their faith and confidence and prevailed 1-0 over a fierce adversary.
As midfielder Rachel Armstrong so eloquently put it: “When you want to succeed as badly as you want to breathe, then you will be successful”
This match indicated that the Vikings never ran short of breath or belief.