SOCCER: Littlerock's playoff run ends
Feb. 20, 2014
By ALONSO TACANGA Valley Press Assistant Sports Editor
LITTLEROCK — Unless a championship celebration is forthcoming, the end of the season is never particularly fun for any team.
So after the final whistle in Littlerock's 2-0 loss to Canyon Springs in the CIF-SS Division 4 wild-card round of the playoffs blew, it was understandable that Lobos head coach Lorrie Duffy wasn't feeling very talkative.
"I'm proud of them," she said of her team before departing into the offseason.
Following a year in which Littlerock (9-7-1) fought to the last day of the regular season to clinch their spot in the playoffs, those words were enough. Although the loss stings for now, it doesn't take away from the fact that the Lobos made the playoffs for a second consecutive year after never having made it before.
The sour taste of a tough playoff defeat won't cast a shadow over the program's recent success for too long.
"We made it this far for the second year in a row and there's going to be a third year," Littlerock goalkeeper Andrea Espitia said.
Espitia was sharp in the final game of Year 2 of Littlerock's postseason run. The goalie truncated several attacks from the Cougars (11-9-2), having multiple goal-saving interventions to keep her team within striking distance after it fell behind 1-0 going into halftime.
But the Cougars kept knocking on the door until finally there was an answer, from captain Alana Tulp in the 54th minute.
Following a cross into the goal area from the right side of the field, Tulp had but to push the ball past a diving Espitia as the Cougars took a 2-0 advantage.
Espitia came away with more saves as her team attempted to cut into the Cougars' lead. Littlerock had been known to be a comeback squad this season, in one occasion rallying from a 2-0 halftime deficit to win 3-2 against Highland.
Against Canyon Springs, a team which has had deep playoff runs in two of the last three years, it proved to be too tall a task. The Cougars' defense stymied the Lobos' offense for 80 minutes, preventing them from recording their first-ever playoff win.
"They were a good team," Littlerock midfielder Odalis Travina said. "We were just out of it."
One of the most talented Lobos, Travina suffered a first-half injury in her right leg after colliding with a Cougar. It clearly bothered her throughout the rest of the match.
Down in the scoreboard and knowing she's also a big part of the soul of the team, Travina chose to play through the pain, however.
"I just had to push through it," Travina said.
She finished the game as the Lobos fell. Dejected from not being able to advance, she still recognized her team's progress in 2013-14.
"I'm proud we went to CIF," Travina said. "We've improved over the years."
The opening goal came in the 35th minute. A loose ball just outside the Littlerock box found the feet of Canyon Springs junior Bridget Villanueva, who shot it low and to the left of Espitia's outstretched arms.
Prior to that, the Cougars hadn't seriously threatened the Lobos' goal. Littlerock hadn't had much offensive luck either, however. The theme continued throughout the game.
That was Canyon Springs coach John Drew's plan all along.
"My mindset when I go to CIF is I think more defensively," Drew said.
The stifling defense put the Cougars in the playoffs' first round against Serrano, and sent the Lobos home to get ready for their next run.
They hope the next one can deliver them at least one game deeper than this year. Not that it won't hurt if they shall fall then, too.
"We could have gone much farther this year," Espitia said. "But things happen for a reason. Maybe it just wasn't our time."
By ALONSO TACANGA Valley Press Assistant Sports Editor
LITTLEROCK — Unless a championship celebration is forthcoming, the end of the season is never particularly fun for any team.
So after the final whistle in Littlerock's 2-0 loss to Canyon Springs in the CIF-SS Division 4 wild-card round of the playoffs blew, it was understandable that Lobos head coach Lorrie Duffy wasn't feeling very talkative.
"I'm proud of them," she said of her team before departing into the offseason.
Following a year in which Littlerock (9-7-1) fought to the last day of the regular season to clinch their spot in the playoffs, those words were enough. Although the loss stings for now, it doesn't take away from the fact that the Lobos made the playoffs for a second consecutive year after never having made it before.
The sour taste of a tough playoff defeat won't cast a shadow over the program's recent success for too long.
"We made it this far for the second year in a row and there's going to be a third year," Littlerock goalkeeper Andrea Espitia said.
Espitia was sharp in the final game of Year 2 of Littlerock's postseason run. The goalie truncated several attacks from the Cougars (11-9-2), having multiple goal-saving interventions to keep her team within striking distance after it fell behind 1-0 going into halftime.
But the Cougars kept knocking on the door until finally there was an answer, from captain Alana Tulp in the 54th minute.
Following a cross into the goal area from the right side of the field, Tulp had but to push the ball past a diving Espitia as the Cougars took a 2-0 advantage.
Espitia came away with more saves as her team attempted to cut into the Cougars' lead. Littlerock had been known to be a comeback squad this season, in one occasion rallying from a 2-0 halftime deficit to win 3-2 against Highland.
Against Canyon Springs, a team which has had deep playoff runs in two of the last three years, it proved to be too tall a task. The Cougars' defense stymied the Lobos' offense for 80 minutes, preventing them from recording their first-ever playoff win.
"They were a good team," Littlerock midfielder Odalis Travina said. "We were just out of it."
One of the most talented Lobos, Travina suffered a first-half injury in her right leg after colliding with a Cougar. It clearly bothered her throughout the rest of the match.
Down in the scoreboard and knowing she's also a big part of the soul of the team, Travina chose to play through the pain, however.
"I just had to push through it," Travina said.
She finished the game as the Lobos fell. Dejected from not being able to advance, she still recognized her team's progress in 2013-14.
"I'm proud we went to CIF," Travina said. "We've improved over the years."
The opening goal came in the 35th minute. A loose ball just outside the Littlerock box found the feet of Canyon Springs junior Bridget Villanueva, who shot it low and to the left of Espitia's outstretched arms.
Prior to that, the Cougars hadn't seriously threatened the Lobos' goal. Littlerock hadn't had much offensive luck either, however. The theme continued throughout the game.
That was Canyon Springs coach John Drew's plan all along.
"My mindset when I go to CIF is I think more defensively," Drew said.
The stifling defense put the Cougars in the playoffs' first round against Serrano, and sent the Lobos home to get ready for their next run.
They hope the next one can deliver them at least one game deeper than this year. Not that it won't hurt if they shall fall then, too.
"We could have gone much farther this year," Espitia said. "But things happen for a reason. Maybe it just wasn't our time."