KEY WEST -- For the 30 or so fans that came to watch the Bishop Verot and Key West girls' soccer match Saturday morning at a very soggy Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium, they saw the Lady Conchs play their very best game of the season.

Although Key West lost 3-2 on a late goal by the Vikings, the Lady Conchs dominated the first half attacking the ball and hanging with the very physical Bishop Verot squad, which resorted to pulling pony tails out of frustration.

Junior fullback Jasmine Jones, whose battle scars were very evident from her left thigh to her left ear, was extremely pleased with their game, but stepped up and took the blame for the goal that won the game for the Vikes.

She said the team's confidence was elevated as a result of a new defensive scheme which placed Jennifer Barcenas at sweeper, Chloe DeVelasco and Jones at fullback.

"When I'm at fullback I can make runs up the side. I think the team knew that. We could lock down the defense and so they got confidence that they could shoot the ball," Jones explained. "Plus, I think when Robyn [DeRoche] got that first goal it really built our confidence.

"To be honest, I thought this was going to be one of those games like Mater [Academy] and a 4-0 loss. I knew this team was good, but when she nailed that goal it was huge for us. We never score the first goal. It hyped us up. I think we played amazing."

DeRoche got the ball rolling for the Conchs just two minutes into the game. She outran a defender and laced a nice volley to the bottom left of the net grabbing a 1-0 Key West lead.

The Conchs had golden scoring opportunities in the 10th and 18th minutes, but just could not put the ball between the pipes.

In the 29th minute, the Vikings were on the attack and Key West keeper Jessica Bodmer came out of goal to make a save, but the ball dribbled past her and was headed for the goal. DeVelasco made an amazing save clearing the ball away from the net to thwart the shot.

But less than a minute later, Bishop Verot scored to tie the contest at 1-1 on a corner kick in which a Vikings player took out Bodmer in her attempt to make a save.

Just before half, a hand ball call on Key West cost them a second Bishop Verot goal. Bodmer made a nice save but the ball ricocheted and another Viking was there for the put back and 2-1 lead.

Two minutes into the second half, Kendall Galvan took a corner kick by Barcenas and headed it into the net to tie the game.

With just a few minutes left on the clock, Bishop Verot scored the winning goal much to the Conchs' dismay.

Coach Scott Paul said he felt the defensive scheme was the difference in what could have very easily been a win for the Conchs.

"This is an example of what I've been saying of what we're capable of which still has all these rough edges," Paul explained. "I think we found our [defensive] set. Trying to figure out what we can do with and what we can do without either in the midfield, up front or back and to be able to put the three of them in the back and not feel like we're gutting the team is great," said Paul. "It shut things down in the back and I think the kids are finally to a point where they know what to do with or without the ball."

rcooke@keysnews.com