Cosumnes River College hosted the State Soccer Championship Tournament for community colleges on Sunday. The women's team was able to play the championship game at home. They earned the #1 seed for Northern California.
The Hawk's opponent was Santiago Canyon from the San Diego area -- the #1 seed from the South Region and the top ranked team in the country.
Hopes were high for the Hawks, who in previous years had never made it this far in the tournament. They were playing for a trophy -- bragging rights and the whole ball of wax goes with it.
The Hawks gave a valiant and emotional effort, but they came out on the short end of a 1-0 score.
Santiago Canyon finished off their nearly perfect season with the hard fought victory, as they ended up with a 23-0-2 record with their last tie coming Sept. 22.
There is no shame in losing to a team with such accomplishments.
"My girls played their hearts out today," Big 8 Conference Co-Coach the Year Cesar Plasencia said. "They gave it all they had, left it all out on the field. We lost to a very worthy opponent."
Santiago Canyon was first on the attack firing away. The Hawk's were up to the challenge as they once again played stellar defense.
Led by 1st Team All Big 8 defenders Maddy Roberts, Becky Gallo and Erika Anguiano, the Hawks found an answer to hold off scoring threats. The defense was short-handed as they were playing without the services of Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year Bianca Palomera. She was lost to a leg injury in Friday's semi-final 3-0 victory over Ventura.
Gallo saved a goal five minutes into the contest with a perfectly executed slide-tackle and goaltender Veronica Caballero made three difficult stops in the early going.
The Hawk's offense was equally being held at bay as well.
A give and go effort between Big 8 Conference Most Valuable Player Dani Arellano and Anguiano was denied. Nydia Ramos, 1st team All Big 8 forward, advanced the ball all the way up the field eluding four defenders along the way only to see her shot go wide left.
Forward Ari Fragoso's attempt at a penalty kick was perfectly placed in front of the goal, but Santiago Canyon was able to clear the ball out.
The Hawks aggressively and evenly played the first half ended deadlock in a scoreless tie.
As the final 45 minutes of the title match began, the sun finally made its appearance warming the thoroughly entertained crowd. It also heated up the players who came out and were much more physical than earlier.
It has long been said in the sports world that defense (not offense) wins championship games. Both teams brought their 'A' game.
Two minutes into the half, the Hawks dodged a bullet when a Santiago Canyon header attempt sailed just over the crossbar.
The Hawks answered right back with series of passes between Anguiano, Ramos and Arellano, but the shot on goal was not true.
Trini Gallo led a breakaway up the left side and dished it to Arellano who found forward Amanda Sailors. Sailor's left-footed 25 yard try was missed by six inches.
Both offenses were attacking relentlessly, but were being denied by the combination of misses and outstanding defense.
And then it happened.
With 22 minutes left, Santiago Canyon lined up for a corner kick from the right side. The ball came down in the crowded penalty area ricocheting off heads, knees and feet. Then, the ball popped out cleanly in front of midfielder Amanda Hardeman who just got it past Caballero into the net.
To CRC's credit, they dug in even deeper. They were more determined than ever.
With five minutes left in the championship match, they launched their most ferocious attack of the day on goal.
Areallano, Fragoso, Ramos and Anguiano all had attempts thwarted one way or another.
Then, the clock ran out and their title dreams were put on hold until next year. It wasn't for the lack of effort though.
"This is a tough pill to swallow," Plasencia, who is in his sixth year with the team, said. "At the same time, I'm so proud of this team. They did everything I asked of them all year and they came together as a real team. I'm so proud for each and every one of them."
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