The San Lorenzo Valley High boys soccer team fell to Santa Cruz High, 2-1, in a tight, physically played game at home this week.
The Cougars nearly pulled off the upset against the Cardinals — who improved to 7-1 in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League, just behind league-leading Soquel (7-0-2) — on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
With four games remaining, the Cougars (2-4-2) are out of the playoff hunt, but they are playing their best soccer in years, said coach Nate Hill.
“I think this is the best soccer we’ve played since I’ve been coach,” Hill said.
Hill is in his second year as coach, but he said this may be the best the team has played since the Cougars made the Central Coast Section playoffs in 2007. The 2007 team was led by Kellen Coffis.
“Our composure on the ball and the possession of the ball has been a lot better,” Hill said.
Forwards Gabe Hernandez and Alex Rinkert have ignited the Cougars’ offense this season, and goalkeeper Rick Van Eysen’s play has been strong in front of the net.
“I’m confident in our kids,” Hill said. “They can play with any team in the league. We’ve had some bad luck, I guess, but we compete in every game.”
Against Santa Cruz, San Lorenzo Valley High took a 1-0 lead when defenseman Thomas McIntosh leapt into the air and headed in a corner kick struck by Hernandez in the 39th minute.
“I just saw a little gap,” McIntosh said of the header.
The Cougars celebrated the goal, but less than a minute later, the Cardinals’ Diego Pio sent a high arching kick into the top-left corner of the net from 35 yards out to tie the game.
In the second half, things got a little chippy, with both teams drawing yellow cards and the referee sending out several players for hard tackles and pulling on jerseys.
Santa Cruz scored the game-winner on a penalty kick in the second half, when the referee said Cardinal forward John Chronopoulos was fouled in the goalie box during a scrum in front of the net.
The Cougars’ Van Eysen was able to get a hand on the low penalty kick, but the ball squirted into the net in the 67th minute to give the Cardinals the win.
In stoppage time, the Cougars made a couple of late runs, but they could not muster any solid shots on goal.
The Cougars will play at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at Soquel before hosting Scotts Valley in a rivalry game at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15. They will close the season at St. Francis on Feb. 17 and against Santa Cruz at Depot Park on Feb. 19, with both games at 3:30 p.m.
“I expect that these guys will put everything they’ve got into it,” Hill said.
