Coming off two shutout losses in a row, the Pinecrest girls’ soccer team was in a desperate situation, trailing 1-0 late in Wednesday’s home match against Hoggard.

“I would say out of all the Pinecrest teams I’ve coached,” Todd Abbey said afterward, “the first half and that first 20 minutes of the second half was the most I’ve seen us struggle, individually and as a team. It wasn’t based on what the other team was doing — we just lost ourselves.”

With just over 10 minutes remaining in the match, the Vikings missed an opportunity to add to their lead when Kelsey Hamm sent a penalty kick over the bar. The Patriots mounted their first two serious threats of the second half shortly after, but Kathryn Palmer and then Kara Sheerin were turned away in the Viking penalty box by strong challenges from goalkeeper Adrian McKeown.

Then at the three minute mark, as the forecasted rain finally arrived, a Sheerin corner kick from the left side was caught and dropped by the Viking keeper. Palmer pounced on the loose ball and knocked it into the net, tying the match at 1-1.

“I actually went to a 4-1-1-4 in the last 10 minutes,” Abbey said. “We basically just had one choice and that was to send the ball forward. It caused the pressure and we got the goal off the corner.”

Currently ranked seventh in 4A, the Vikings (2-1-1) were last year’s 4A state runner-up. They took the lead in the 21st minute when Kristin Busby, who scored the overtime goal that defeated the Patriots in last season’s state quarterfinals, connected in transition.

The Patriots nearly drew even in the 32nd minute of the first half when Kelly Palmer launched a rocket from the right side that first-half Viking goalkeeper Emily Tippett flicked over the frame. Scoring opportunities were few and far between for the home side before the late surge produced the equalizer.

Coming off a 1-0 loss to T.C. Roberson last Saturday, and a 3-0 defeat at Cardinal Gibbons on Monday, the Patriots are now 2-2-1. On Friday night they travel to Leesville Road (3-0) for a 6:30 p.m. match against the No. 1 ranked 4A team in the state.

The Pinecrest jayvee team (2-0-1) defeated Hoggard 3-0 in Wednesday’s earlier match. The goal scorers were Megan Thomas, Kelsey Davis and Danielle Paran. Hana Bornhorst recorded an assist.

Contact Charlie Bergmann at cbergmann@nc.rr.com.