The Sierra Timberwolves could not have got a better opening to its first round Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV contest, scoring the game’s first goal before surrendering two unanswered for a 2-1 season-ending loss Tuesday.

The Timberwolves (12-6-5) got the attention of the Sierra Valley Conference’s No. 1 seed, getting a goal from Naomi Nunis in the 18th minute and holding the advantage for just about 10 minutes. Vista (13-2-2) scoring threat MacKenzie Mercier would handle things from there.

The junior captain would connect on both Vista goals, hitting the first in the 26th minute on a beautiful tailing goal from 30 yards out and sealing the Timberwolves’ fate in the game’s waning seconds, making good on her second shot of the contest on a rebound.

“They took a shot that went to Lia (Unterholzner) and it just bounced off her hands,” Sierra head coach Manuel Pires said. “The ball came loose and (Mercier) was able to get to the ball before one of our defenders got there.

“And there was maybe 30 seconds after that.”

Asia Cortez got the assist on Nunis first half goal.

The Timberwolves closed out a season that has to be viewed as a success. Sierra came into the season as a young group, but took strides in the right direction and became one of the Valley Oak League’s most competitive clubs.

“I am very proud of the way my team played,” Pires said. “I think we earned a lot of respect playing hard in a tough place like that. We battled those guys and were prepared to go to overtime.

“I wouldn’t have been very surprised if we would have come out of there with a win; that’s how close this game was.”