There was immediate heat when the Wildcats took the field against the UC-Santa Cruz Banana Slugs. The Banana Slugs took the field in defiance of their lethargic name and scored an unassisted goal within the first nine minutes.

The ‘Cats came back ferociously merely three minutes later. A Wildcat drive took Brian DeGrandmont, 5, to the far right. He then offered a dramatic diving cross to Moi Diaz, 2, who put the ball into the left side of the net for Linfield’s first goal.

The first half was concluded with a close range penalty kick against Linfield, blocked by Jack O’Keefe, 32. This sent the two teams into the half locked in a tie with one goal apiece.

The second half began much slower, with the first shot on either goal coming in the fifty-eighth minute. The Wildcats had a quality drive, cutting through the Santa Cruz defense, until it unfortunately concluded when a Santa Cruz player fell and snared Nicholos Autencio, 8, who had to leave the game with an injured ankle.

Momentum continued to shift in the Banana Slug’s favor when they scored a second unassisted goal with seventeen minutes remaining in the game.

As time expired the scoreboard reflected a 2-1 loss for the Wildcats. Despite facing the unfamiliar formation of the Banana Slugs, Linfield managed five shots on goal and six saves.