ELKO, Nev. --Eventually something had to give between the South Tahoe and Truckee

girls soccer teams this season.

That something was one simple mistake on a single play in more than 80

minutes of soccer.

Brooke King took advantage of a missed trap in the first half and the

defending state champion, South Tahoe, edged Truckee 1-0, and earned itself

a trip into the Northern Division I-A championship game.

The victory came after both teams tied each other twice during the regular

season, and with two teams as closely matched as South Tahoe and Truckee,

something small had to decide a winner and loser.

"It came down to who took advantage of the first mistake and that's all it

was. It wasn't a spectacular play," South Tahoe coach Chris DeLeon said.

In the 22nd minute Jensen Smith booted the ball down the field where King,

anticipating a missed trap by the Truckee defense, moved up the field and

received the ball between the defender and goalie.

She one-timed the ball under goalie Cassandra Sawyer for the decisive goal.

After playing with a controlled-style of play, South Tahoe switched up its

gameplan Friday and continually booted the ball down the field. It worked on

its one goal.

"It's not usually our style, but it worked today," DeLeon said.

Truckee tried to answer in the second half, but always found itself a slip

on the grass or a bad touch away from getting a clean look at goal.

"It's very disappointing. We came so far this year and we played soccer

unmatched (by our opponents). We played skilled soccer, and we didn't just

boot the ball," Truckee coach Katie Jamison said.

Many of the strongest chances came from captain Olivia Duner. The center

midfielder "ran the show out there," said Jamison.

On defense, Sawyer finished with 12 saves in the match for Truckee.

It was the second year in a row Truckee has fallen in the Northern semifinal

round. Last year, it lost to Elko.

Also, for the second year in a row, South Tahoe advances to the championship

game. This year, the Lady Vikings did it despite losing two of its captains

from injuries.

Cassidy Jackson was the first captain to go down and Alisa Caro became the

second, Thursday, when she was ruled out for this weekend's games.

"The girls had to step it up and they have," DeLeon said.

South Tahoe faces Elko today at 10 a.m. for the championship match. Elko won

last year's regional championship game 2-0, but later lost in the state

championship rematch to South Tahoe, 3-0.

South Tahoe is on a 15-game undefeated streak with its last defeat coming to

Elko, a 2-1 loss, on Sept. 8.

South Tahoe is 18-1-2 and 8-0-2 on the season. Truckee finishes the season

at 18-4-3 and 7-0-3 on the season. Truckee graduates nine seniors.