Above: Man of the match Ross Mark brings the ball up from the back.

Two games in one day proves to be too much in loss to Santa Cruz 12/10

After a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to St. Ignatius on Saturday morning, the Warriors had lunch together and traveled to Lincoln High School.  Up next, the unenviable task of playing the second top CCS team of the day.

After a somewhat lackluster performance in the first game, the Warriors came out looking to win. Santa Cruz, a perennial CCS finalist, came out early and got on the board with a well placed shot, 1-0.

After that goal, it was all VC.  The Warriors began attacking relentlessly, and scored two goals to take the lead.

On the first, Jeff Coggan found a darting Joey Stryker who took a quick touch and buried the ball past the charging keeper. 1-1.

In the 32nd minute, the Warriors were awarded a free kick just inside midfield.  VC defender Ross Mark played a perfect ball over the top that Jeff Coggan flicked into the next past the 'keeper. 2-1 Valley. Jeff's 25th goal of his career.

After halftime, the Warriors began to cramp, tire and everything else that hurts a team trying to hold a lead.  The team gave everything they could, but in the end Santa Cruz scored two great goals to retake the lead.

"On a different day, when we don't have to play two of the CCS's best teams three hours apart...we hold onto that lead.  Santa Cruz is a great team, and we really should've won that game.  I'm proud of the heart the guys showed today," Coach Basanese concluded.

The game was highlighted by the excellent play of the defense, specifically Ross Mark.  Ross tallied his first point in a VC uniform with the assist on Coggan's goal.  Ben Hansen was his usual unbeatable self for most of the game, making key save after key save to try to keep VC in the game at the end.

The Warriors will travel to Mitty to play another tough match against the Monarchs, this Tuesday.

vcsoccer.com man of the match: Ross Mark

Scoring summary:

Stryker (Coggan) '20

Coggan (Mark) '32

VC Starting Lineup: Hansen, Zvolanek, Seaman, Mark, Nettemeyer, Field, Keeling, Coggan, Osuna, Goldsmith, Stryker

Weather: Perfectly clear, 63 degrees.

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