If you are a DVC soccer fan, your fingernails have probably been chewed short this season.

In the third game of conference play on Friday, the Vikings beat Cosumnes River College in another nail-biter thanks to a late goal in the second half by Lindsey Parscal for a 1-0 victory.

According to coach Cailin Mullins, the team has almost everything going for them, but they are missing one crucial part of the puzzle, and that is finishing in the final third of the field. Mullins explained, “I am proud of their patience and their faith that a goal will come. We hung in there and made them (Cosumnes) make mistakes. The one thing we are looking for is a goal-scoring personality.”

In the first half, DVC controlled the game, but opportunities on goal were scarce. Cosumnes played in a defensive shell, never sending more than two players forward on offense. The way Cosumnes packed their side of the field made it hard for DVC to make progress, and most of the shots on goal were taken from outside the 18-yard box, leading to easy saves for Cosumnes goalkeeper Joana Hernandez.

Michelle Paxton, a fan from San Ramon, summed up the first half when she said, “The game has been pretty lopsided so far (in DVC’s favor), but the score does not reflect that.”

The second half was a frustrating repeat of the first half until, less than 10 minutes left in the game, Hernandez made a crucial mistake in clearing the ball that offered a gift of a goal to DVC’s Lindsey Parscal. After receiving the errant kick, Parscal “concentrated on remaining composed,” and calmly finessed the ball into the back of the net.In the waning minutes of the game, DVC goalkeeper Jenn Crider saved the game with a full stretch save that was a result of great positioning, ensuring that the Viking’s 1-0 lead would result in a win.

After the game, assistant coach Alex Lobban commended the team for “working hard day to day,” attributing the win to DVC’s strong work ethic.

There is no doubt that the hard work ethic, the fundamental skills and the can-do attitude are pieces of the puzzle the team do possess. Now if they can find that one missing piece, the puzzle will be complete and the Vikings will be a team that is hard to compete with.

The next home game is Friday Oct. 5 against the Modesto Pirates at 3:30 p.m.