Great effort by boys soccer

Last Wednesday, February 1, the Fallbrook varsity boys soccer team (12-4-6 overall/4-1 league) hosted the Vista Panthers. The Warriors lost the game 2-1. Fallbrook played a decent game but Vista was up for the challenge with few mistakes and lots of hustle.

Fallbrook began the game with an offensive rush and took three shots on goal in the first 13 minutes. Chris Toth had two saves, keeping the score 0-0. Both teams became more physical but no points were on the board even though Fallbrook and Vista each had three more unproductive shots on goal and opportunities through corner and indirect kicks. Finally, with ten minutes left in the first half, Jose Torres passed the ball off to Rob Taft, who dribbled down 50 yards and scored from ten yards out. The Warriors carried the lead 1-0 and kept it through the halftime. Both teams gave it their all to score again, but the defensive play of each team kept the scoring in check.

The second half of play began and the Vista Panthers gained momentum from the first kick. The Panthers’ offense dribbled the ball down and scored to tie the game only three minutes later. The goal was an unusual opportunity for the Vista player as he took advantage of no weak-side help to shoot against Toth from the opposite side and kick the ball out of Toth’s reach. Fallbrook immediately reacted by bringing the ball down the field on a breakaway by Austin Moffat. Moffat took a shot but a great stop by the Vista goalie stymied the Warrior offense.

Vista, not to be outdone, took off with their own breakaway and shot from 15 yards out. The ball knocked Toth over, resulting in another goal for the Panthers. The score was now 2-1 and the Warriors needed to mount a comeback. The rest of the game was filled with defensive play by Vista and attempts by Fallbrook to find the right opportunity to score. It was not in the cards on this night, as the Warriors suffered their first league loss to a team that came to play and showed that on any given night anything can happen.

Both teams deserve props for hustle and enthusiasm. Vista and Fallbrook players pushed themselves from start to finish. The Warriors had a good game but lost momentum in the first part of the second half and never were able to regain the lead. The team has great hopes still for the season and the next home game is Friday, February 10, against Rancho Buena Vista. Come and support varsity boys soccer!