The Valencia girls soccer team was carrying plenty of momentum heading into Friday’s matchup with Walnut in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs.

But physical play from Valencia’s host, a perennial champion of the San Antonio League, helped slow the Vikings’ charge.

However Valencia junior Kristin Bos got her team back on track, earning a 2-1 victory with a game-winner in double overtime, and a ticket to the next round.

“It was just back and forth, back and forth,” said Valencia head coach Sean O’Connell. “They’re a really physical team, there were a lot of shenanigans, but it was a good game.”

Both teams were held scoreless for most of the first half, until Walnut got on the board first in the 37th minute.

Valencia (15-5-2) struggled to find an answer, and O’Connell moved the team into a 4-4-2 formation to try and boost its chances on goal.

Senior midfielder Hannah Hicks responded in the 63rd minute with an equalizer that was assisted by Emily Tuffey.

“We’re definitely not a physical team, so them coming out (physical) like that, we were definitely off our game,” Hicks says. “But in the second half, we stepped it up and played a lot better.”

Both teams came close to ending it in regulation.

Alyssa Triana had near misses on two occasions, and Walnut (7-3-3) answered with two shots that bounced off Valencia’s goal posts.

A tired Vikings squad managed one more goal three minutes into the second overtime, as Triana found Boz for the team’s second score.

Valencia will play the winner of Laguna Hills/Eastside on Wednesday, at a location to be determined.