The Verde Valley School’s soccer team fell 3-0 in the first round of the Canyon Athletic Association’s Division I playoffs at the hands of Foothills Academy on Saturday, April 29.

Two mistakes led to two first-half goals, and the team was forced to press a talented Foothills team, allowing for play to open up and the third goal to come in the second half.

Despite the loss and early exit, VVS head coach Andy Gill was content with his team’s competitiveness against the tournament’s No. 1-ranked team.

“They were the better team and deserved to win,” Gill said. “But they were not that much better than us. It was encouraging for me to see that were not actually that far behind. We don’t have huge improvements to make to catch them.”

Both of Foothills’ goals came after the VVS defense made lackluster clearances, allowing the hosts to get in behind it and score.

“In these games it’s fine margins,” Gill said. “Being a bit more experienced and more confident and not making those mistakes.”

Foothills was good at pressuring the ball, not allowing VVS much time to make a clear pass or decision.

That pressure forced the team to play a style different to what it is accustomed; sending long balls up the field rather than linking passes through the midfield. Gill said it was physical game that saw four yellow cards; the team had yet to seen one the entire season.

Gill also mentioned that having played a less challenging schedule throughout the season did not prepare the team well for higher level opponents.

“Across all of the CAA, it [Far North Conference] was one of the easier conferences to get out of,” Gill said. “Hopefully next year it’ll be a little more challenging. I look forward to mixing it a bit with bigger teams from Phoenix.”

The team finished the season with an 11-3 overall record and 8-0 in the Far North Conference of the CAA, claiming the championship in the team’s first season in the league.

Five of the starting 11 will depart from this season’s team. But with three freshmen starters, the rest of the returners and a new batch of players to come, Gill is not overly concerned.

“Always the goal is season by season to improve,” Gill said. “To have a better record and qualify for the final eight. We always lose a few but every year we get new kids coming in from all over the world that can contribute.”