“Get in the box. Get in the box,” South Tahoe coach Ben Hannah frantically yelled.

The Vikings were down to the final two minutes and every South Tahoe soccer player except one defender and the goalkeeper were in Truckee’s box. The Vikings had controlled the ball for most of the second half, but were yet to even the score.

South Tahoe urgently tried to hurry in a tying goal. A few shots flew close, but the Truckee Wolverines held on for a 1-0 Division IA win Monday, their second victory against South Tahoe this season.

“Do not forget this team. We will see them again,” said Truckee coach Casey Eberhardt after the game.

There were shots and chances for both teams in both halves. Either team could have taken the game and either team looked like it might throughout the 80 minutes.

“It was a tough, physical game,” Eberhardt said “Definitely two of the top teams in the league coming together to play so I didn’t expect anything less. Fortunately, we were able to get a goal in the first half and kind of hang in there.”

Nathan Ariza gave Truckee the go-ahead goal in the first half.

South Tahoe’s goalkeeper, Alvaro Orazco, and standout defender Jack Kixmiller, held Truckee to one goal despite the Wolverine’s offensive onslaught in the first.

The second half was a different story.

“This game was a tale of two halves,” Hannah said. “(Truckee) dominated the first half, but we kept our head up and kept going, and turned on another gear in the second half. We kept it on their half of the field, but we just couldn’t get it in the net.”

Diego Garcia, Tito Martinez and Christian Navarro dominated the second half. The three Vikings kept the ball in Truckee’s territory the majority of the second.

But Truckee’s defense and goalkeeper stepped up and held South Tahoe off for the win.

Vikings best Fernley

An 8-0 win against Fernley on Saturday may have been one the reason’s the Vikings weren’t adjusting in the first quarter of Monday’s game.

Alec Bowman and Jamie Rodriguez both turned in standout performances to help South Tahoe take a 6-0 lead in the first half.

Bowman was all over the field, out hustling his opponents and setting up key shots.

Rodriguez was an offensive leader for the Vikings with his two goals and well-placed assists.

Derek Caro also netted two goals for the Vikings.

Tre Charrette, Jesus Martinez and Isaiah Montoya also added goals.

UP NEXT: South Tahoe plays its next four games on the road against Lowry, Elko, Spring Creek and Dayton.