Eagles eliminated by Raiders, 2-1 in OT

Vista del Lago played Rio Americano three times this season and couldn't beat them. The Capital Athletic League rival tied the Eagles at one and beat them 2-0 during league play, and was able to go on and win the league title in doing so, and then in the second round of the Division III playoffs on Wednesday, they defeated the Eagles 2-1 in overtime. The first half was all Rio Americano, as they controlled the ball and possession for a large majority of the first half, but did not score. That changed nine minutes into the second half, when Dalilah Oakes took a cross from Sierra Betzler and buried it into the back of the net, a shot that Vista keeper Molly McBride had no chance to stop. Vista slowly began to play better, and eventually tied the score at one with 15 minutes to play. Makenna Gradek fought extra hard to win a ball, pulled it down and then got it to Megan Gover, who booted the ball up the field and placed it onto the foot of Taylor Grover, who broke in one-on-one with the keeper and scored to give the Eagles new life. The goal sparked Vista, who improved their play and the game eventually went into overtime. However, with about four minutes to play in the second overtime period, Rio Americano earned a corner kick and Betzler made another nice cross into the box that Avery Popejoy headed into the goal to give the Raiders a 2-1 victory. "We battled and got back in there and gave us a chance to win," Vista coach Kennedy Chongo said. "What I liked is how we responded and how we battled to get back into the game. They controlled everything in the first half, but eventually we responded and it was a good response."