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South Tahoe and Whittell high schools met for the first time as league opponents in soccer on a wind-swept Tuesday afternoon, with the Vikings coming out on top in both 3A league games.
But the much smaller school in Zephyr Cove didn't let the former 4A soccer powerhouses embarrass them in either game at the Community Youth Sports Complex.
The much-anticipated doubleheader began with the defensive-minded Whittell girls overcoming a one-sided shot disadvantage to stay close in a 2-0 defeat to South Tahoe.
“We're neighbors, why not,” said STHS coach Chris DeLeon of the schools coming together on the pitch. “We should be helping each other and just make the league stronger.”
The Vikings (4-1 overall) outshot Whittell 22-1 in the first half and only had one goal to show for their dominance. Junior Willow Nelson used the wind to send a 40-yard shot past Whittell keeper Jillian Dauscher in the 13th minute.
South Tahoe was frustrated closer to the goal as the well-positioned Dauscher repeatedly came up with saves, and the defense around her helped protect the goal.
“That keeper was in the right place at the right time, and she made it frustrating on our girls,” DeLeon said. “They were smart back there.”
The Vikings continued to pepper the Whittell goal with a distinct shot edge in the second half.
Junior Lauren Pickering followed Nelson's approach to beat Dauscher after intermission. Pickering sent a 35-yard shot just past Dauscher's reach into the left corner of the net in the 50th minute.
“We didn't do bad because they were a hard team. We didn't have a girls' soccer team last year, so we're doing pretty good, but know we can do better,” Dauscher said.
South Tahoe finished with a 45-7 edge in shots. Whittell's best opportunity came in the second half when senior Marlo Smith blasted a free kick to the feet of STHS keeper Janet Campuzano.
“I'm really used to play with them in the offseason than playing against all of those girls ,” said Whittell sweeper/midfielder Sammy Brumbach. “It was more intense than a lot of games.”
The Vikings (2-0 in league) are idle until playing host to Truckee on Tuesday. Whittell (5-2 overall) plays at Portola on Friday.
Hernandez keys South Tahe boys' win
The transfers canceled each other out. It was the playmaking of Edgar Hernandez that made the difference in South Tahoe's 3-1 boys' soccer victory on Tuesday afternoon in South Lake Tahoe.
Hernandez scored twice in the first half to enable South Tahoe to beat crosstown neighbor Whittell in the first-ever league match between the schools.
Former Whittell soccer player Cody Williams opened the scoring for South Tahoe in 15th minute. Ryan Caro's through ball allowed Williams to beat keeper Austin Neil in the lower-left corner. Two minutes later, Her nandez got behind the Whittell defense and rocketed in a 20-yard shot.
“I got a little nervous because we just started the season. I should have scored more,” Hernandez said.
But Whittell didn't surrender. After missing several good chances early on, the Warriors caught a break when STHS was whistled for a hand ball in the box. T.J. Kolesnik, who started at Whittell High before transferring to South Tahoe and back, converted the penalty shot at 23:00 to cut the Warriors' deficit in half.
“I hoped so,” Kolesnik said of his desire to score against his former teammates. “When we play again I really want to score, not on a PK or anything, but a real good goal.”
Hernandez capped the scoring in the 35th minute when he again got behind the Whittell defense and beat Neil in the lower-left compartment.
“He's a phenomenal soccer player, so I was happy to play with him,” Kolesnik said of Hernandez. “He moves the ball around and knows what he's doing.”
Neil, a sophomore keeper, kept the Warriors within striking range during a scoreless second half, making a number of diving saves. Senior Griffen Boles led the Vikings' defensive unit, which limited the number of quality shots by Whittell.
“We have a really good defense. We just had a few mistakes in the back,” Boles said. “They had four forwards at one point in the first half, and it's kind of hard to defend that.”
Whittell (4-3 overall) plays in the Del Campo tournament Friday and Saturday, while the Vikings entertain Truckee on Tuesday.
But the much smaller school in Zephyr Cove didn't let the former 4A soccer powerhouses embarrass them in either game at the Community Youth Sports Complex.
The much-anticipated doubleheader began with the defensive-minded Whittell girls overcoming a one-sided shot disadvantage to stay close in a 2-0 defeat to South Tahoe.
“We're neighbors, why not,” said STHS coach Chris DeLeon of the schools coming together on the pitch. “We should be helping each other and just make the league stronger.”
The Vikings (4-1 overall) outshot Whittell 22-1 in the first half and only had one goal to show for their dominance. Junior Willow Nelson used the wind to send a 40-yard shot past Whittell keeper Jillian Dauscher in the 13th minute.
South Tahoe was frustrated closer to the goal as the well-positioned Dauscher repeatedly came up with saves, and the defense around her helped protect the goal.
“That keeper was in the right place at the right time, and she made it frustrating on our girls,” DeLeon said. “They were smart back there.”
The Vikings continued to pepper the Whittell goal with a distinct shot edge in the second half.
Junior Lauren Pickering followed Nelson's approach to beat Dauscher after intermission. Pickering sent a 35-yard shot just past Dauscher's reach into the left corner of the net in the 50th minute.
“We didn't do bad because they were a hard team. We didn't have a girls' soccer team last year, so we're doing pretty good, but know we can do better,” Dauscher said.
South Tahoe finished with a 45-7 edge in shots. Whittell's best opportunity came in the second half when senior Marlo Smith blasted a free kick to the feet of STHS keeper Janet Campuzano.
“I'm really used to play with them in the offseason than playing against all of those girls ,” said Whittell sweeper/midfielder Sammy Brumbach. “It was more intense than a lot of games.”
The Vikings (2-0 in league) are idle until playing host to Truckee on Tuesday. Whittell (5-2 overall) plays at Portola on Friday.
Hernandez keys South Tahe boys' win
The transfers canceled each other out. It was the playmaking of Edgar Hernandez that made the difference in South Tahoe's 3-1 boys' soccer victory on Tuesday afternoon in South Lake Tahoe.
Hernandez scored twice in the first half to enable South Tahoe to beat crosstown neighbor Whittell in the first-ever league match between the schools.
Former Whittell soccer player Cody Williams opened the scoring for South Tahoe in 15th minute. Ryan Caro's through ball allowed Williams to beat keeper Austin Neil in the lower-left corner. Two minutes later, Her nandez got behind the Whittell defense and rocketed in a 20-yard shot.
“I got a little nervous because we just started the season. I should have scored more,” Hernandez said.
But Whittell didn't surrender. After missing several good chances early on, the Warriors caught a break when STHS was whistled for a hand ball in the box. T.J. Kolesnik, who started at Whittell High before transferring to South Tahoe and back, converted the penalty shot at 23:00 to cut the Warriors' deficit in half.
“I hoped so,” Kolesnik said of his desire to score against his former teammates. “When we play again I really want to score, not on a PK or anything, but a real good goal.”
Hernandez capped the scoring in the 35th minute when he again got behind the Whittell defense and beat Neil in the lower-left compartment.
“He's a phenomenal soccer player, so I was happy to play with him,” Kolesnik said of Hernandez. “He moves the ball around and knows what he's doing.”
Neil, a sophomore keeper, kept the Warriors within striking range during a scoreless second half, making a number of diving saves. Senior Griffen Boles led the Vikings' defensive unit, which limited the number of quality shots by Whittell.
“We have a really good defense. We just had a few mistakes in the back,” Boles said. “They had four forwards at one point in the first half, and it's kind of hard to defend that.”
Whittell (4-3 overall) plays in the Del Campo tournament Friday and Saturday, while the Vikings entertain Truckee on Tuesday.
