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Damian Dottore. Sports. HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 24, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

FULLERTON – Fullerton boys soccer coach George Shumaker has rarely been in a position such as this before so he thought the Indians’ time in the Sunny Hills Summer League was over.

His players had to remind him that they did indeed have one game remaining in the tournament.

After ending pool play with a 0-0 tie with Kennedy on Wednesday, Fullerton, traditionally a championship favorite, finished near the bottom of the table and will play in a consolation match on Thursday to determine the ninth- and 10th-place teams.

“I have been coming to here forever,” Shumaker said, “and I can’t remember the last time this has happened to us.”

The Indians should have won the match against the Fighting Irish as Javier Victorino smashed a shot off the near post in the fifth minute. That was the best scoring chance either team had on Wednesday.  

Don’t be fooled by where Fullerton placed in the tournament. The Indians have a solid group of midfielders and defenders and they have been in every game that the have played this month. Fullerton scored two goals against Sunny Hills and Sonora, losing to the Lancers by a goal and tying the Raiders.

Sonora and Sunny Hills are among the best teams in the tournament.

“We dominated both those games,” Shumaker said.

The Indians, Shumaker said, were held back this summer by their lack of ability to finish in the final third.

“That is the difference with high school soccer is getting them to play as a team and be committed,” Shumaker said. “We played with a lot of pride, and they know that they can play. We are going to be the dark horse this year. It’s about turning the light bulb on. When it comes on, it’s going to be bright.”