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RIVERSIDE — Young teams make mistakes, and Norte Vista’s boys soccer team was starting just two seniors.
Junior Joel Pichardo scored in the 80th minute, but a defensive lapse in the first overtime proved fatal as Norte Vista’s season ended with a 2-1 loss to Culver City in a CIF Southern Section Division 2 second-round playoff match.
“Our team is really young, and they did what young guys tend to do,” Norte Vista coach Matt Beliveau said.
Unable to produce a shot on target in overtime, Norte Vista’s nine-match winning streak was snapped.
“Now we’ll have to learn from it. That’s the tough part,” Beliveau said. “But we’ll be back. This team has a lot of talent, but we’re just not there yet against teams that are more experienced.”
After beating Vista Murrieta 3-0 in the first round on Wednesday, the Braves (13-7-4 overall) were held scoreless on Friday until Pichardo’s header punched through Culver City’s defense near the full-time whistle.
The adrenaline rush from the goal could not be sustained, however, and a long free kick from Culver City dropped for the Centaurs’ Liam Rees, who guided the ball past Norte Vista sophomore goalkeeper Estevan Garcia for the golden goal near the 90th minute.
Aiden Martinez scored early in the second half to give Culver City (12-4-1) the lead before Norte Vista pushed for an equalizer in the final 15 minutes of regulation.
The Braves earned seven corner kicks and numerous long throws over the final quarter of an hour, the last of which caromed around inside the goal area before Pichardo plucked it past the hands of Culver City goalkeeper Kaidon Davis.
“I feel like we managed the lead the best we could, but when it gets down to the final minute you’re having to try your best not to concede corners and long throws, but it is what it is,” Culver City coach Rene Collazos said.
Norte Vista, a CIF Southern Section Division 3 finalist in 2022, has won 10 or more matches in 14 of the last 15 seasons. Beliveau’s teams are 267-118-87 since the 2006-07 season.
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