Disappointing loss for No. 1 Indians
For the first 40 minutes of its Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI playoff opener, the Marysville High girls soccer team played solid defense and registered almost a dozen shots on goal.
While the Indians had 17 total, Victory Christian needed just seven to upset the No. 1 seed 2-0 on Tuesday.
The loss at Marks Field ends a great season for Marysville, which won 10 of its last 14 games and the Golden Empire League title.
"We looked ready to play," said Marysville coach Chris Osborne. "We set the tone early, and we've got a pretty good rock solid defense."
Victory Christian coach Ron Kaulen added, "(Marysville) came out hot, and ready to play. They played a very good game."
The Indians' offense pushed the ball up field, trying to set up plays from the corner to midfield in hopes of getting the ball to all-league midfielders Wendy Valencia, Nallely Ferreira or Wendy Arechiga.
But no luck.
Instead, Victory Christian striker Rachel Furtado, managed to squeeze past the Indians' defense in the 65th minute of the game. Only a freshman, Furtado snuck past two Indian players and booted a 15-yarder into the net for a 1-0 lead.
"That first one was a communication breakdown," Osborne said. "You make one mistake as a defender, and you can score."
A minute later, the Indians let their guard down again — one of the few times the defense has done that this season, Osborne noted - as Furtado poked another one from five yards out for a 2-0 lead.
"She's been a major force for us all year," said Kaulen of Furtado. "She has a great work ethic, and she's very skilled."
Marysville tried to regroup after Furtado's shots, and the Indians' offense moved the ball upfield, but the Vikings held together on defense to record their playoff win.
"We didn't want to lose that spark (from the first half going into in the second half)," Osborne said.
Osborne is focused on next season, as his Indians lose eight seniors on their 20-player roster, including starters and captains Arechiga and Kirstin Hodges.
