Tracy Press

The leaders of the San Joaquin Athletic Association girls soccer league are still neck-and-neck after a 2-2 tie tonight at Plasencia Fields.

The contest to see who would break the tie at the top of the San Joaquin Athletic Association girls soccer standings ended in a 2-2 tie.

Today's game at Plasencia Fields could have put either Tracy or Lincoln in first place and the other in a tie for second. Now, the Bulldogs and Trojans, if they both continue to beat other teams in the SJAA, will see next Friday if one can take sole possession of first place.

Both teams stand at 7-1-1 in league play. The tied score was still a favorable outcome for the Bulldogs, who lost to Lincoln in their last meeting March 26 in Stockton. Tracy beat the other contender for first place, the Lodi Flames, on Friday in Lodi, leaving the Flames with a 7-2 record.

“We had to come out and play hard. It wasn’t going to be an easy game,” said Katelyn Golik, who scored both of Tracy’s goals.

Lincoln scored first when the Trojans swept down the side of the field and passed across the front to knock the ball in.

Tracy did the same thing a couple of minutes later, when Golik was there to make the low shot through the opening in the center of the goal.

The teams went into the half with Lincoln in the lead, 2-1, after the Trojans moved the ball through the middle of Tracy’s defenders to make the shot.

Tracy goalie Samantha De La Torre said it was a tough defensive challenge for the Bulldogs, but one they were prepared to meet.

“Since we lost to them, we had to step up our intensity,” she said. “They’re just really aggressive and don’t stop for nothin’.”

Tracy made its second goal toward the end of the second half as the Bulldogs moved the ball to Lincoln’s territory and pressed to keep the offensive position. As Tracy moved across the end of the field, Alexis Poppoff knocked the ball in front of the goal, and Golik was there to make the score.

“I knew I just had to get a touch on it, and it just found its way in the front post,” Golik said.

(F/S) Tracy 5, Lincoln 0

Tracy scored right away, but the rest of the first half was a defensive standoff. Defensive player Victoria Piazza said coach Phil Kalis reminded the team at halftime that a one-goal lead can quickly disappear.

“We started to lay back a little, and they seemed to want it more,” she said. “In the second half, we definitely flipped a switch and came together as a team.”

The win puts Tracy at 9-0 in the SJAA and 13-0-1 overall.

Melissa Aboud and Ashley Arteaga each scored two goals and Marissa Matta also scored one for Tracy. Alyssa Strope, Danielle Stepanoff, Liesel Bogetti, Aboud and Arteaga were all credited with assists.

• We want to hear what you have to say. To reach Sports Editor Bob Brownne, call 830-4227 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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