MENIFEE — The Paloma Valley girls soccer program returned to the Ivy League this season, and Friday night the Wildcats played their first of two matches against the league’s current standard bearer in Arlington. The Wildcats found sledding tough for 40 minutes offensively, getting just three sho ts on goal in a scoreless first half. But down a goal with 14 minutes left to play, Paloma Valley freshman Isabella Davis got into the box and punched in a tying goal in traffic from a sideline throw in by Lacie Lomenick as the Wildcats answered a score 19 minutes earlier by Arlington’s Scarlett Equihua. Paloma Valley (8-5-4, 3-0-2 in league) had one last chance at a go-ahead goal with roughly 2 minutes left in stoppage time, but Lomenick’s shot hit the crossbar and fell straight down just shy of the goal line. Time expired and the match ended as a 1-1 tie. “We’ve been here before and we have to realize that every match is an opportunity to prove that we are here to stay in the top league (of the Raincross Conference),” Paloma Valley coach Katelyn Fregosi said. “They’ve been a team that has risen to that challenge so far and I couldn’t be prouder of them.” Arlington (7-5-2 overall, 2-1-2) played much of Friday’s match down a player following a red card in the 34th minute for a foul committed against Paloma Valley goalie Giselle Hardesty in the box. The Lions’ bench also received a yellow card in the same sequence for arguing the decision. The Lions controlled time of possession early, getting three shots on goal against Hardesty in the opening 5 minutes of action but failing to punch anything through. “I was a defender back in the day so I hold defense near and dear to my heart and they were locked in against Arlington’s attackers today,” Fregosi added. After Valley View and Canyon Springs battled to a scoreless tie on Friday, round one of league play ends with Paloma Valley and Valley View tied for first place at 11 points. Arlington, who dropped its Tuesday match to Valley View, is three points out of first. “We’re a very young team with the target on our backs and I think we’re progressing with every match,” Arlington coach Laikyn Koss said. “Our experience is in the backline and they’ve been playing well so far. They’ll keep us in matches until we can get something done offensively.” Evany Hernandez had six saves for Arlington in the tie. Related Articles Brooklyn Ross leads Aquinas boys basketball team past Arrowhead Christian Great Oak boys basketball team outlasts Temecula Valley in overtime Rialto boys soccer team rallies past Fontana, sweeps season series Moreno Valley girls basketball team outpaces Rancho Christian in Ivy League showdown All-CIF Southern Section Football: Five Inland players earn Player of the Year honors ...read more read less