Final four teams descend on American River College for CCCAA Men's Soccer Championship
CCCAA Championship Semifinals (American River College)
Tickets l Watch
(1N) Taft (16-3-3) vs. (2S) Mt. San Antonio (16-6-2), Fri., 10 a.m.
(1S) Oxnard (20-1-1) vs. (2N) Merced (17-3-3), Fri., 1 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, 3:30 p.m.
Tournament Headquarters (links for video streams, recaps, photos)
SACRAMENTO - No one ever said that making it to a championship round of any sport would be easy.
You can ask the four teams headed to the California Community College Athletic Association men’s soccer championships at America River College this weekend, and they’ll tell you the 2022 season has been a battle.
The four teams each have been tested in the playoffs to reach this point – scoring late goals, needing extra time, and knocking off teams that they had previously battled in the regular season.
No team epitomizes the hard struggle than the South’s No. 2 seed, Mt. San Antonio College. The Mounties, the defending state champions, have needed extra time in all three of its playoff wins. They beat Santa Ana with a second-half goal in extra time, then knocked off El Camino on penalties. Then, to punch their ticket, the Mounties needed to knock off previously undefeated Cerritos - in the two teams’ third meeting of the season – with a goal in extra time.
The Mounties have been led by a trio of sophomores up front this season: Midfielder Alex Mendez leads the way with 15 goals and 13 A), Forward Andrew Vazquez (13 G, 8 A), Forward Edward Castro (12 G, 8 A).
Mt. SAC will take on the North’s top remaining seed, Taft, in Friday’s first game. Of the four teams, the Cougars have had the easiest road in the postseason, knocking off Foothill in their opener 5-0, then beating City College of San Francisco 1-0. In the regional semifinal, they scored two second-half goals, then held off a late charge from Hartnell to win 2-1.
But they had their challenges, earning draws in two of their last three regular-season games – including a 1-1 draw with fellow semifinalist Merced, and they had a loss in September to the South’s No. 1 seed, Oxnard.
The Cougars, have outscored opponents 45-12 on the season, with sophomore goalkeeper Jaime Tiscareno credited with playing every minute in goal this season, posting a 0.50 GAA and 64 saves. Up front, they have been led by freshman forward Omar Marquez with nine goals and five assists. He has been supported by sophomore Ebebechukwu Ekpemogu’s five goals and six assists.
The hottest team coming into the final four is the South’s top seed, Oxnard. The Condors have won 15 in a row since suffering their only loss of the season to Mt. SAC near the end of September. They beat Chaffey 6-0 in their playoff opener, then beat Golden West 3-0. To reach the final four, they were able to knock off Fullerton – a team they tied earlier in the season – with an 85th minute goal from Noe Eulloqui, his only goal of the season.
But the Condors have plenty of firepower up front. Sophomore forward Andy Cruz scored 13 times and added seven assists, while Pedro Santos-Jimenez had 10 goals and two assists. Odin Rosten had nine goals and eight assists, while Christopher Ramirez had eight goals and eight assists.
Merced, their opponent in Friday’s second game, played two draws in its final two games of the regular season, and have had tests in the playoffs. In the third round against De Anza, the Blue Devils needed a late goal from Jason Valtierra to force extra time, then won with a goal by Felipe Lopez in the second half of extra time. In the regional semifinal, they trailed at half against Clovis, then scored twice in the second half to punch their ticket.
Sophomore forward Daniel Borges has been the leader up front with 19 goals on the season, to go with five assists. Lopez has 15 goals and 12 assists, while freshman forward David Mejia has seven goals and 10 assists. In goal, Angel Ruiz-Hernandez has posted a 14-2-3 record with 53 save and an 0.71 goals against average.
(Bill Norris, CCCSIA)