Recap of 1-1 Tie vs. Las Posits College

Diablo Valley College sophomore captain Megan Coppa experienced quite a thrill in a 1-1 draw against visiting Las Positas Thursday afternoon in women's soccer.

Coppa not only scored the team's first goal of the season on a Julia Curran assist in the 51st minute, but it was also her first goal ever, she said.
"I've played defense my whole life, so getting in the attack was really exciting," Coppa said. "I was kind of bummed that that they came right back with another goal, but it felt good to put one on there. It wasn't a total loss."

The draw, which featured some quality play and sturdy defense by the Vikings in breezy conditions, gives DVC an 0-1-1 record and a shot of confidence.
"I felt really good about the game," Vikings coach Cailin Mullins said. "I was worried about this (Las Positas) team."

Mullins was impressed with the Lady Hawks' early season reasons, which included a four-goal output in a win over Mendocino and a credible 2-1 loss to Southern California power Cerritos.
"I really anticipated a little bit more potency in their attack, but we did a good job of adhering to our game plan," Mullins said.

The Vikings wanted to keep the ball to negate the Lady Hawks' speed and athleticism.
"We did a great job of that, especially in the first half," Mullins said. "The second half fatigue was setting in a little bit and maybe it wasn't as pretty a game as it was in the first half."
Mullins was particularly pleased with how they locked down the Las Positas forwards. LPC's tying goal came off a set piece in the 53rd minute.

The Vikings' back four of Andrea Weinstein, Dominique Calloway, Katelynn Cunningham and Deiziana Dargan was outstanding. Hannah Mazolewski had a couple of strikes from distance that almost went in.

On the DVC goal, Curran made a good service to Coppa from the right.
"I was in the 18 and Julia Curran passed me the ball," Coppa said. "I saw the keeper, and the defenders were coming at me. I saw the backside of the goal open, and I took a swing at it and saw it go in."

Coppa, a Clayton Valley Charter graduate, is also a comeback story. She tore the ACL on her right leg as a high school junior, and then she broke her fifth metatarsal on her left leg as a senior.
"So I've been on crutches a lot in high school, so I didn't get to play too much," she said.
But she's still out there giving it her all for the Vikings.
"This is my last season, so I might as well get the most out of it that I can," she said.
-- Matt Schwab