No. 2 seeds Folsom Lake and Cypress post upsets to reach 3C2A Women's Soccer Championship
WALNUT - Winter Radekin knocked in a header from in front of the goal in the 97th minute on Friday evening as Folsom Lake, the north's No. 2 seed, came from behind late in the game to stun once-beaten Chaffey College to advance to the 3C2A Women's Soccer Championship on Sunday against Cypress College at Mt. San Antonio College.
Cypress, the No. 2 south seed erupted for three goals to beat Cosumnes River, 3-0, in Friday's other semifinal matchup. The two teams will square off at 10 a.m. on Sunday on the West Field at Mt. San Antonio.
Folsom Lake, which is looking for its first state championship, trailed Chaffey 1-0 for 70 minutes after the Panthers scored in the 15th minute on a goal from Chelsea Bowen, who headed in a corner kick from Leslie Adalpe after a scramble from about six yards out. The Falcons, though, stayed close before rallying in the final minutes of regulation.
They got the equalizer in the 86th when Olivia Chimienti grabbed a ball near the far sideline even with the penalty box before centering it to Tea Reyes who headed it in. The momentum carried Folsom Lake into the first of two 15-minute overtime periods when Radekin delivered the eventual game-winner. Reyes had a free kick from about 19 yards out in front of the goal after a hand ball against Chaffey. Reyes knocked it off the crossbar, the ball popped up and Radekin put it into the back of the net.
Julia Galdamez had a shot on goal in the 112th minute for Chaffey that was saved by Reese Clarke and the Panthers tried one final conversion off Adalpes' corner in the final seconds but Clarke saved a header from Gisele Speirs to punch Folsom Lake's ticket to Sunday's championship.
The Falcons improved to 16-3-4 with the win while Chaffey finished its impressive season with a 21-2-3 record.
The overtime periods came after Cypress had already earned its championship berth with a convincing win against Cosumnes River on the adjacent field at Mt. San Antonio.
Itzel Ramirez and Carisia Raygoza scored in the first half for the Chargers while Abigal Morales added another in the second. Cypress dominated the shots total, 20-4, picking up 10 in each half.
The game was scoreless into the 27th minute when Ramirez scored her first goal of the season off an assist by Chloe Imperiali. The Hawks came right back and got a shot on goal from Brenda Jimenez just over a minute later. The attempt, however, was saved by Cypress goalkeeper Sofia Lopez, keeping the lead at 1-0.
Cypress struck again, this time just before halftime when Raygoza slid a shot in from the right side in the 44th minute, pushing the lead to 2-0 just before intermission.
Cosumnes River had its best chance to score early in the second half but Angelina Ortiz' penalty shot was saved by Lopez and the Chargers came back quickly the other way, getting their own shot on goal 90 seconds later that was stopped by Zara Mujica. Mujica had 10 saves in the game.
Leading 2-0, Cypress made it a three-goal game in the 69th minute when Morales scored on an unassisted goal. The Chargers were able to hold off the Hawks the rest of the way to make their way into the championship where they'll look for their fourth state championship. The previously captured banners in 1998, 1999 and 2004.
Cypress improved to 19-4-2 while Cosumnes River ended its terrific postseason run with a 15-3-6 mark.
Sunday's game will be streamed on a pay-per-view basis by BAOSN.tv.
(Mike Robles, CCCAA)