VC boys soccer team falls to Del Norte by one goal

 

Stefano Da Silva (in white) catches up to the ball just before scoring the Jaguars' lone goal in a 2-1 loss to Del Norte on Thursday night.

By Dan Kidder

Athletes are often known for their superstitions, so when the calendar turned over into the year 2013, some teams were no doubt looking over their shoulders for any stray black cats.

Here in Valley Center, the varsity boys soccer team may not have any broken mirrors laying about, but the Jaguars were definitely sad to see 2012 come to a close.

The Jags were playing great soccer before the new year began, posting a 3–2–1 record through their final game of the year on Dec. 21.

But since 2013 began, the Jaguars just can’t seem to catch a break, as they have now lost five consecutive games, none by more than a two-goal deficit and the last three by only a single goal.

The latest loss came at home against Del Norte on Thursday night, as the Jags battled through a scoreless first half, then found the net early in the second half, only to have the Nighthawks come back with two late goals to steal the game, 2–1.

Valley Center head coach JD Dantas knows better than to think that his team walked under too many ladders recently.

“We just need to score,” he said of his team’s recent skid in the standings. “We’re getting opportunities to score, but we’re just not finding the net.”

In Thursday’s game, the Jaguars were strong on defense through a first half that saw Del Norte consistently on the attack. Valley Center’s chances came, by and large, on the counter-attack, but the Jags couldn’t connect on their final passes and watched their chances slip away.

But in the second half, the Jaguars began to control the ball and find the passing lanes that were closed in the first half. On a fast break with just over ten minutes gone in the second half, Stefano Da Silva corralled a long pass as he streaked down the right-hand side of the field, took a shot from 20 yards away and knocked the ball in off the far post to open the scoring.

The Nighthawks responded with a push into the offensive zone, and only seven minutes later, they answered with a goal of their own. The score came off a corner kick that got past Valley Center keeper Gavin Marcon and made it to the far post, where a simple deflection put the ball in the back of the open net.

Del Norte still controlled the ball consistently and limited Valley Center’s chances in the middle of the field. The pressure on the Jaguar defense eventually led to another goal, this one coming off a throw-in from the corner that bounced off two Del Norte heads before landing at the feet of a shooter who easily tapped in the goal.

Valley Center had some chances to even the score late in the game, most dramatically with just under seven minutes remaining in the game. After a Jaguar throw in and a high ball that the Nighthawks attempted to clear, Da Silva took a shot on the volley from about 20 yards away, only to have the ball ricochet off the post and roll harmlessly away.

“We had several breakdowns on the defensive end,” Coach Dantas said of the two goals scored by Del Norte. “We were a little more aggressive, and we got out of our game plan, which was to play with patience and hold tight on defense.”

The Jaguars will look to get back in the win column in their next game, which comes at Ramona on Tuesday at 5:15 p.m.

Diefenbach scores twice in second half to lead Lady Jags to comeback soccer win

Kiana Diefenbach (4) scores the first of her two goals against Escondido.

Story by Dan Kidder

It took more than 40 minutes for the Valley Center varsity girls soccer team to “wake up,” according to head coach Joe Montoya, in their game against Escondido on Wednesday night.

But once they did, the Lady Jaguars gave the Lady Cougars nightmares with a pair of goals from sophomore Kiana Diefenbach and a comeback 2–1 win.

The Lady Jags had some chances early in the game, including a near miss by Vanessa Heredia, but it was Escondido that scored first, with a goal off a corner kick with just over 15 minutes remaining in the first half.

“We were still asleep in the first half,” Coach Montoya said after the game. “We were not contesting, we were chasing a lot, and we were not moving forward. Our heads weren’t in the game. But at half time, I just reminded them what we’re here for, and we started connecting passes and we played much stronger.”

The Valley Center defense held strong in the opening minutes of the second half, creating chances up front for the offense. With just over 31 minutes left on the clock, the Lady Jaguars were given a free kick from 35 yards away. Savanna Reilly curled a booming kick into the box and the ball smacked off the bottom of the crossbar, just barely staying out of the net. The keeper couldn’t keep up with the bounce, and Diefenbach swooped in to bury the rebound in the back of the net to tie the game.

Escondido came right back after the score and earned a corner that led to a shot that sailed just wide of the net, and the Valley Center defense recovered to prevent any further attack.

Valley Center bounced back and, with just under 24 minutes to go, earned a corner that led to a shot that went just over the crossbar.

Four minutes later, Diefenbach found some open space in the middle of the field, corralled the ball and sent a long shot past the keeper for the game-winner.

“[Diefenbach] has been playing more of an attacking mid position for us, but we had a chance to move her up front tonight,” Coach Montoya added. “She’s a scorer. Last year as a freshman, we brought her up for CIF and she scored two goals for us, so she has the scoring ability. She’s been dealing with some injuries, but she’s really come back strong.”

Next up for the Lady Jaguars is a game at Vista on Friday night at 5:15 p.m.

“We’ll need to have a lot more touches and possess the ball a little more,” Coach Montoya said of the upcoming game. “Vista only graduated a couple players, and we tied them two to two last year, so we really need to come out ready to play.”