Desert climates are generally a stark contrast from the coastal temperatures experienced along the coastal communities. Perhaps the wet, cold, and gloomy conditions of Hesperia, a small community fifteen miles north of San Bernardino in the Mojave Desert, was all it took for the Santa Monica High School boys’ soccer crew to be out of its element, as the top-seeded Vikings lost to Hesperia Oak Hills 4-0, in the quarterfinal match of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs on Feb. 24.
The Vikings struggled throughout the match, earning a pair of red cards late and failing to bend any balls passed Bulldogs’ goalkeeper Ricardo Ramirez.
Samohi (19-3-3), the Ocean League champions, finished the season just two wins shy of claiming the CIF title.
Sage Smith scored two goals for the Bulldogs, while Chazz Cameron had two assists and a score.
