WINNEMUCCA - When the Lowry High School junior varsity boys soccer team played at South Tahoe in mid September, the Vikings ran away with a 10-0 victory over the Buckaroos.
It was a different story when the two schools got together on Saturday afternoon in Winnemucca. South Tahoe notched just one goal in the first half, but pulled away in the final 40 minutes to win 4-0.
"I really don't think you could ask for more than was given by my guys today," said LHS head coach Ron Espinola. "That is what I have been stressing all year long. Every day, whether it's practice or a game, at the end of the day, I want the kids leaving knowing they did what they could."
South Tahoe had an opportunity to score in the 10th minute on a free kick but could not convert. The Vikings did get on the scoreboard six minutes later, when they put the ball into the open net.
With 10 minutes left in the half, South Tahoe hit a shot off the post, but that was the final chance for the Vikings to score in the half.
South Tahoe stretched out the advantage in the second half, scoring twice in a two minute span in the 52nd and 54th minutes. The Vikings closed out the scoring with a goal in the 67th minute off a rebound in the box.
"We got beat. We didn't lose that game," Espinola said. "We got tired in the second half but that didn't stop the effort. The first time we played they made us look like we were new to the game. We haven't won a game this year, but the attitude has gotten better and the expectations higher. The kids don't go through the motions. It's not fun to lose, but we are having fun getting better and anybody can see that. We are going to continue to do that."
Lowry had its opportunities to score in the second half, but shots by Ariel Gonzalez and Levi Lloyd went just to the outside of the net. Toward the end of the match, Gonzalez had a header that just missed going in as well.
Coach Espinola also praised the play of goalkeeper Sergio Lopez.
"That was one of the best goalkeeping performances I have ever seen," added the coach. "He made some incredible saves and kept us in the match."
Lowry travels to Fallon today to play Churchill County at 2 p.m. and makes the trip to Truckee on Thursday for a 2 p.m. start.
"I told the guys at the beginning of the season it is not about wins and losses for us," Espinola said. "It's about getting ready for the next level. We need to have players ready. We are trying to do what the varsity does. Give these guys another year and they will be there and be ready for that."[[In-content Ad]]
