The Diablo Valley College women’s soccer team kept it close, but a late goal by the Renegades of Ohlone Community College left them on the losing end of a 2-1 game.

The loss moves the Viking record to 3-3-1 on the season.

The Vikings fell behind the Renegades early after allowing a goal within the first 15 minutes of the match. The strike set the tone for much of the first half, as the Vikings struggled to maintain ball possession and press for an equalizer.

But scrappy defense and a few stellar saves by goalkeeper Megan Elms kept the Vikings within reach going into halftime

With the second half came a different tone for the Vikings as they quickly went on the attack and notched an early goal of their own after a strike by forward Ashley Scannell.

The equalizer came when a cross by DVC forward Julia Curran was deflected by the Ohlone defense. The ball landed in the Ohlone box close to Scannell, and she wasted little time putting it in the back of the net.

But the celebration proved to be short lived, as after a number of close calls for both teams the Renegades broke the tie and the DVC defense for a second goal. The kick, which landed off the crossbar, left some spectators with doubt as to whether or not it crossed the line.

“I knew right away it went in,” said DVC head coach Cailin Mullins. The sideline referee seemed to know too as he waved through what proved to be the game’s difference.

Though several narrowly missed shots by DVC kept the atmosphere tense, the final whistle left them with a third defeat in four games.

“I thought we did good” Mullins said about the loss, “it wasn’t enough, but I was happy we did give ourselves a chance in the second half.”

The Vikings will look to regroup for their Big 8 Conference opener. The September 28 home game will be against Cosumnes River College.