Despite creating a number of good chances on goal and deserving more, the Woodland High School girls varstiy soccer team suffered through a 0-0 tie against El Camino during Friday night’s Golden Empire League clash at the Woodland Community and Senior Center.

After a lively first half and dominating possession in the second half, the Wolves were incredibly unlucky to come away without a win, as a healthy serving of shots on target and one directly off the crossbar that bounced straight down was not enough to earn the Wolves a game-winning goal.

“We had a lot of opportunities tonight,” Wolves head coach Carlos Pimentel said. “El Camino is one of the strongest teams in our league, and I think we had many more shots than they did. It was a very good game. I keep telling the girls that we can compete with anyone in our league, but it feels like we have let an opportunity slip away tonight.”

The Wolves (3-6-4, 2-3-4 GEL) came into the league clash on a four-game winless streak, tied for fifth place in the league with Sutter. So far this season, the Wolves have lost to Sutter, and in their most recent game this past Tuesday, they tied with Sutter 1-1.

Other games during the slide include a 2-1 loss to Rio Linda on Jan. 20, a scoreless tie to Dixon on Jan. 15, and a 1-1 tie to Casa Roble on Jan. 13. Before that, however, the Wolves were in scorching form thanks to a 3-2 league win over Rio Linda on Dec. 11, a non-league 4-0 victory over Esparto, and another 2-0 league win over Natomas on Jan. 6.

“I think not executing our opportunities has been the biggest difference during this streak,” Pimentel said. “We have not been able to put the ball away. I think it’s more positive that we are creating more chances than we did at the beginning of the season, so I think we are finding more chemistry within the team, and the girls are really settling in.”

Around the 33rd minute, senior captain Cassie Vannucci-Mounce carried the ball into the Eagles half, getting clattered at around the 30-yard line, earning a free kick. Fellow senior captain Luciana Pimentel would send in a near-perfect free-kick into the box that Wolves forwards just missed.

Seconds later, the Wolves earned the ball back as Vannucci-Mounce regained possession but shot it wide off the mark. Vannucci-Mounce remained dangerous, sending in a shot on goal from a pass by Dianessa Picazo right before halftime.

After the break, the Wolves continued to dominate the ball, earning several chances that they could not convert. The best chance of the game came when Woodland High School’s Mia Villarreal unleashed a shot from about 20 yards out that went right over the El Camino keeper’s head but bounced straight down off the crossbar.

Somehow, the ball bounced straight down and not a few inches backward, allowing the Eagles goalie to frantically stand up and lunge at the bouncing ball, keeping it away from the line.

Near the end of the game, Wolves Analisa Reyes was played through on goal, but she could not control the ball enough, leading to a tame shot that the El Camino goalie gently corralled.

Up next for the Wolves will be an immediate road rematch against El Camino on Monday. They will then close out their season with a senior night game against Natomas on Jan. 29 and a final road trip to take on Casa Roble on Feb. 5.

“Mathematically, playoffs are still possible,” Pimentel said. “I hope we continue to stay focused and not give up. You can see that they are still fighting. We haven’t had the results we want, but we are fighting and giving it the best we can.”