Girls soccer falls short against Oceanside, Valley Center

By Joe Naiman

Ramona High School’s girls soccer team lost its Feb. 12 game at Oceanside and Feb. 14 contest at Valley Center by the same margins as in the first round of Valley League play.

Oceanside’s 4-1 victory was an identical score to that of the Jan. 24 match in Ramona, and in both games between the Bulldogs and Pirates all five goals were scored during the first half. Valley Center’s 2-1 triumph Jan. 29 at Ramona involved a 2-0 halftime lead for the Jaguars while the 2-1 game Feb. 14 was scoreless during the first half.

In the rematch between Ramona and Oceanside the Pirates held a 3-0 lead after scoring two goals on penalty kicks.

“That was kind of an easy score,” said assistant coach Deena Vizcarra.

Ramona missed a penalty kick prior to junior Karli Njaa placing a shot into the net to register the Bulldogs on the scoreboard.

“The two penalty kicks that they made and the one we missed killed us,” Vizcarra said.

“Ramona played a lot more aggressive in the second half. We just couldn’t get the scoring opportunity that we needed,” said the coach.

The game at Valley Center was scoreless until late in the second half.

“Took some shots over the goal,” Vizcarra said. “Had some nice shots on goal, played really nice soccer.”

The Jaguars began the game’s scoring by capitalizing on a corner kick.

“That was basically us leaving our mark,” said Vizcarra.

Ramona junior Noami Ramirez tied the game temporarily.

“She had an excellent drive up the field, followed up on her own shot, and scored,” Vizcarra said.

The Bulldogs threatened to take the lead.

“We had great offensive runs and great scoring opportunities,” said Vizcarra.

The Jaguars obtained what turned out to be the winning goal.

“Towards the end we had some good throw-ins close to the goal,” Vizcarra said. “Shelby Stein made several critical throw-ins in the 6-yard box.”

“We were hoping to score and we didn’t,” she added.

The losses left Ramona with a 3-5 Valley League record and an overall 6-8-2 figure. Ramona’s final regular-season game will take place Friday at Del Norte High School. Saturday’s CIF playoff selection and seeding meeting will determine whether the Bulldogs continue their 2013-14 season.

“I think we’re going to be in there from all the numbers I’ve seen so far,” Vizcarra said.