Girls’ soccer wins league despite dissappointing loss

Rebecca AsoulinStaff WriterThe Lady Vikings have ended up victorious and remain the champions of Ocean League. Since Samo left the Bay League in 2003 and joined Ocean League, the girls have been atop the proverbial pyramid. This year they continued the tradition of winning Ocean League, but unfortunately for the first time lost one game to historic rivals Beverley Hills.Samo lost to Beverley Hills 2-1 after a grueling physical game and two 10-minute overtimes. The atmosphere at the game was almost toxic as several Beverley Hills and parents begin to throw nasty comments towards the Samo team.“If there wasn’t a rivalry [between Beverley Hills and Santa Monica] before, there definitely is now,” coach Jimmy Chapman said.However amidst all of this and after an early goal by Beverley Hills the Lady Vikings just pushed harder and managed to tie the game with a goal by senior Julia Glanz.“This year we have been starting slow and we have to come back,” captain Nicole Lettiere said.Unfortunately, despite a valiant effort that included several near shots during the second 10-minute overtime by Glanz and Lizzy Lyons, they were unable to win the game.The girls then went on to completely dominate in their last two league games, crushing Morningside 14-0 and defeating Hawthorne 4-0.The girls were able to snatch away a championship from Beverley Hills after Culver City beat Beverley Hills, but depending on another team to help wasn’t the way they wanted to win league.“We have struggled this year considering the amount of talent and skill. We have yet to hit our peak this late in the season. Our best is yet to come,” Chapman said.Chapman believes that their key problem is that they often keep trying to be overly physical and not playing to their strengths.At the conclusion of the Beverley game Chapman shared with the team an Einstein quote: “Insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.”Allowing their talent to lead them instead of “forcing the issue” is what Chapman believes to be essential to going as far in playoffs as their ability and passion can take them all the way.