Over the past weekend, the Union Pines' soccer team was alone in first place in the Cape Fear Valley conference standings for the second time this season. However, Monday at Harnett Central (6-3-2 CFV, 8-5-2 overall), the Vikings lost their sole possession of the top spot in the league with a 2-1 loss to the Trojans.

The Vikings went into the game without the services of freshman center-forward Carla Lively, who is second for Union Pines in goals (nine) and assists (six) for the year. She was forced to leave the Vikes' last match midway through the first half with a back injury, which she has yet to recover from.

Without Lively, who is the anchor of their attack up top, the Viking forwards struggled all match long. In the contest Union Pines' junior forward Anna Pilson had her five-game assist streak snapped, while midfielder Kacey Graner saw her four-match goal streak come to an end.

In the first half the Vikes tallied just six shots, with only one try coming on goal. In contrast, Central got off 13 shots in the opening stanza..

While the Union Pines' defense was able to hold the Trojans scoreless from the field, striker Kristen Baker converted a penalty kick in the 31st minute to give her team a 1-0 lead that it took into intermission.

After Central took the first three shots of the second half, the Vike offense began to show some signs of life, unleashing seven scoring attempts in a nine-minute span that started in the 52nd minute, but Union Pines couldn't put the ball in the back of the net.

Baker scored her second goal of the game on a deep throw-in to put Harnett Central out in front 2-0 with 13:06 left in regulation. From there, Union Pines would hold the Trojans to just two shots, while getting off six quality chances. None of the tries resulted in a score as time was ticking down on a Vike comeback bid.

Finally, Viking junior defender Taylor Smith converted on a free-kick from 23 yards out to make the score 2-1 with 1:39 left in the match.

Now at 8-2 in league competition and 10-3 overall, Union Pines is tied with Western Harnett (8-2, 12-2) for first place in the conference standings.

The next match for the Vikings is a home match Wednesday against New Century Middle School, slated to start at 5:30 p.m.