I attended six playoff games in eight days, and there were many exciting moments. Thankfully for the Blue Devils, opponents’ goals were not among them.
Soccer often gets criticized for its low scoring and ties. The regular season can frustrate those who want clear winners. This season's SFL standings show 32 ties for the boys and 30 for the girls. I even endured a couple of 0-0 ties, which is tough for a photographer.
However, once the playoffs start, all of that changes. There must be a winner. If matches are tied, they move to overtime, and if still deadlocked, to penalty kicks. It guarantees a photo-worthy celebration.
The scarcity of goals keeps games close, making playoff matches dramatic. All four girls games went down to the final whistle. In the section semi-final against undefeated Inderkum, Davis scored early, then spent the final minutes watching the clock and steadying their nerves. For the losing team, the season and some careers ended. Every near miss sends hearts racing while eyes are glued to the clock.
Once the clock hit two minutes, it stopped. From there, the head referee keeps time and adds stoppage as needed. Soccer is the only high school sport where teams don't know how much time remains, adding to the drama. Davis fended off several attacks and held Inderkum until the final whistle. The Blue Devils celebrated, and Inderkum's season ended.
The boys’ first two playoff wins came by multiple goals, but they survived one-goal margins in the semis and section final. The week’s most dramatic moment was in the final seconds of their semi-final. Davis led Franklin 1-0 in stoppage time. Franklin earned a corner kick for one last chance. As the ball sailed in, Davis's goalie Reece Mayhew jumped to punch it away, colliding with Franklin players.
The ball bounced out, and a Franklin player kicked the rebound in, seemingly tying the game. But the referee had already blown the whistle for a Franklin foul. Franklin’s hopes deflated, and Davis barely believed the call. Seconds later, the final whistle confirmed the outcome. Davis advanced; Franklin's season ended.
There were several season-changing moments all week. The girls defeated another unbeaten team, Del Oro, in dramatic fashion. After 80 minutes and two overtimes, the match was tied 0-0. Davis led 4-3 in penalty kicks. Del Oro had one last attempt. Blue Devil goalie Aubrey McLin awaited a shot that would decide both teams' fates. McLin dove right and deflected the ball wide. The Blue Devils celebrated, while Del Oro players consoled each other.
The beauty of sports is that the games are unscripted and don't always have fairytale endings. Just five days later, McLin and her teammates would be the ones consoling each other. In the section final, Davis would find itself in the exact same position. After shutting out the top-seeded and undefeated Gregori squad for 100 minutes, McLin would face the same exact situation, a save to win. This time, the opponent's ball found the back of the net, Davis would miss their final attempt as well, and Gregori would take home the crown. It was the Blue Devils' turn to handle the tears and disappointment.
Despite the loss, McLin gained perspective. “I’ve always believed that, even in tough moments, every match is an opportunity to learn, grow, and appreciate being out there,” she said. “The Del Oro win felt great; the Gregori loss stung, but both matter. I play to leave with no regrets, knowing I gave everything to this season and my team.”
The boys beat Turlock 2-1 in another intense game to win the section title. Their on-field celebration was savored as they put on championship hats and took photos wi... Click here to read full article
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