NORTHEAST GLENDALE — Panic set in for a squad that began the match clicking by playing poised.
The Crescenta Valley High girls’ soccer team saw a two-goal lead quickly evaporate in a 15-minute stretch, possibly leaving the Falcons with their most frustrating setback of the young season.
Crescenta Valley suffered a 3-2 loss to Long Beach Poly on Friday night in the third-place match of the Los Tacos Holiday Festival at the Glendale Sports Complex.
Earlier, the Falcons (7-2-2) dropped a 4-0 decision to intercity rival Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in a tournament Red Bracket match at the same venue.
Crescenta Valley, which opened the tournament Thursday with bracket victories against La Salle and South Pasadena, appeared to be in control early against Long Beach Poly (6-3-2).
The Falcons, who won the Pacific League championship last season before advancing to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs, got a goal from Brittany Berger in the second minute and another from Summer Davidson in the eighth minute to grab a quick 2-0 lead.
Then Long Beach Poly, which placed second in the Green Bracket behind Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, began its comeback with a goal in the 27th minute by Alexis Leyba.
Leyba’s goal seemed to turn the tide in Long Beach Poly’s favor, in addition to deflating the Falcons.
“We played our game, and then got in a panic mode,” Crescenta Valley first-year Coach Heather Fraschetti said. “We had some unlucky opportunities.”
Long Beach Poly got a pair of second-half goals by Crystal Dorado in a nine-minute span to take a 3-2 lead.
Crescenta Valley didn’t quit, but had two golden scoring chances foiled.
In the 48th minute, Danny Cardenas launched a direct kick that struck the crossbar and bounced away.
About two minutes later, Long Beach Poly freshman goalkeeper Corrin Villasenor stopped a point-blank shot to maintain the advantage.
“We had some great attempts on corner kicks,” Fraschetti said. “We have to just not get ahead of ourselves, and not get sucked into the opponents’ game.”
Crescenta Valley, which finished second in the bracket, got five saves on the day from first-year goalkeeper Apolonia Martinez.
Berger finished the tournament with a team-high three goals.
Alex Barret-Scherrer had two tournament goals for the Falcons, who also got one apiece from Kim Carcich and Veronica Aguilar.
Crescenta Valley won’t compete again until it meets visiting Pasadena in a league match at 3:15 p.m. Friday.
The Falcons opened their league schedule last week with victories against Glendale and Hoover.
