The Royals battled back from two goals down to tie the game at 6 at the end of regulation, only to fall in overtime to Simi Valley on Wednesday.
San Marcos led 3-1 at halftime but in the second half “the offense bogged down,” said Royals coach Paul Ramsey, and Simi Valley went on a 5-1 run over 18 minutes.
Then junior Emma Neal drew the Simi Valley defense to her and found senior Meiya Sidney, who scored to pull San Marcos to within one. With 1:33 remaining in regulation, freshman midfielder Mia Martinez-Tomatis scored the tying goal on a penalty shot, moving the game to overtime.
“Our ride was pretty good and that hard work is what kept us in the game when our offense wasn’t clicking,” Ramsey said. “It helped us after we turned the ball over on our last possession in regulation.”
Senior goalie Shana Friedenberg had nine saves for the Royals.
San Marcos drops to 1-4, with the win coming against Simi Valley on April 10. The Royals play their Channel League opener at Dos Pueblos on Friday at 6 p.m.