With ten minutes left to play in the first soccer game of the season and the support of his team, Fernando Arevalo scored the goal that would determine the final score of 3-2.

Their opponent? The other Viking soccer team: the girls.

By the end of the game on Thursday, Sept. 10, the players of both teams showed the exhaustion of good competition with flaming cheeks, open mouths, and legs reluctant to run.

Each team showed their assets in the match.

“Our varying strengths created a good match,” Girls head coach Chama Anderson said. “The boys team gives us the opportunity to learn how to defend, attack, and possess the ball against a team that fast, quick, and strong.”

It was the first full 80-minute game either team has played this year. Playing the boys and girls teams against each other offered both the opportunity to field full teams in a full game, something they cannot do in practice because both are too small to scrimmage.

Alison O’Toole scored both goals with the girls team behind her, including the first goal of the game. O’Toole also played goalkeeper in the first half. During the second half the girls’ goal was kept by Lana Bronn. Together O’Toole and Bronn defended against 22 shots taken by the boys. Cameron Smart played keeper for the Viking boys. Nine shots were taken at his goal by the girls.

The score remained close throughout the game. Each team took a turn in the lead. Supported by their teammates, Alex Zderic scored one goal for the boys and Arevalo scored two.

According to boys head coach Matt Stolmeier, the Viking teams were well matched to develop their skills.

“It was a great practice game. The girls played hard,” Stolmeier said. “For the girls it was a great opportunity for them to put into perspective what they’ve been doing in practice and for us to field two full teams.”

Stolmeier saw some of the skills his team has been practicing on the field Thursday.

“The good thing that I saw was the boys weren’t trying to drill it into the back of the net but were working with more finesse that we’ve working on at practice,” Stolmeier said.

Anderson saw in her team stamina, focus, skill, and the heart to match the boys team.

“Today the team played very well,” Anderson said.

The next Orcas boys soccer game is Friday, Sept. 18 at 4:45 p.m. at Grace Academy. The next Orcas girls soccer game is Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 3 p.m. at Friday Harbor.