Despite nearly completing a two-goal comeback, the Pioneer High School varsity girls soccer team lost a close Monticello Empire League game to first-placed Vacaville 3-1 Thursday night at the Woodland Community and Senior Center.

After dominating the Golden Empire League for the past four years, the Patriots (6-6, 2-5 MEL) took a huge step up in terms of competition this year in the new Monticello Empire League. While the results haven’t been as fruitful as in years past, the new head coach, Juan Morales, is excited by what he sees as he builds the team up the way he wants.

“I think if we compare our first game against them to this game, you can see a lot of improvements,” Morales said. “The league is totally different, so you can see the games have been a lot closer than they were last year. I am really proud of this team and the way they played.”

The Patriots came into the matchup in fourth place in the MEL, behind leaders Vacaville and second-placed Rodriguez and River City. Key league wins this year include a 2-1 road win over Wood this past Tuesday and a 3-1 road win against Vanden on Jan. 21. Losses include a 6-0 loss to these same Vacaville Bulldogs on Jan. 14, two close, 1-0 losses to Wood and Rodriguez, and a 2-0 home loss to River City.

“The first few games, we were really struggling and mentally down,” Morales said. “I told the team that we need to understand that we lost eight vital seniors last year, and we moved up a division. They thought it wouldn’t be a huge difference, but it has been. We are learning this year, but next year, we will see the difference.”

Vacaville entered the match safely in first place, with an impressive 14-1-2 overall record and a perfect 6-0 in the league.

They looked to stay undefeated, as they took a two-goal lead into halftime. The Patriots went into the break with some work to do, but since they were at home, they figured to have most of the possession for the rest of the game.

“In the second half, we played really well,” Morales said. “There were a couple of mistakes we made, and we have to work on it.”

In the 23rd minute of the second half, they had a great chance to score after sophomore Jillian Tang played a fantastic through ball to junior Olivia Chavez. Chavez was free on goal and only had the keeper to beat, but perhaps had too much time.

After playing a few touches forward, the Vacaville keeper flew off her line and charged Chavez. Chavez decided then that it was time to take a shot, but the angle had gone, and her shot bounced off the keeper’s shins, ending the chance.

Three minutes later, however, the Patriots finally hit the back of the net. After Chavez made another great run into the Vacaville box, she’d draw a foul on the corner of the area, earning a penalty kick. Patriots senior Camille Salazar, who was all over the field, stepped up for the kick and drilled the ball into the bottom right corner, cutting the lead to 2-1.

Things looked great and on track right up until the 38th minute when Vacaville uncorked a long-range blast from about 25 yards out, nestling into the top left corner of the net where the spiders spin their web, making it 3-1. Minutes later, the ref blew the whistle, and Vacaville got back on the bus, still undefeated.

Up next for the Patriots will be a road trip to Rodriguez High School on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

“It’s going to be hard to make the playoffs, but the first thing I’ll choose to focus on is for us to be mentally strong,” Morales said. “I don’t want us to give up. I also want them to keep trying to play short passes and try to play out from the back so they get used to it for next year. They have to believe in themselves, and I hope in the final weeks, they do that, and we become mentally stronger.”