Falcons' magical season ends with 2-0 loss

It started on Aug. 30 with a 3-0 win over Lassen College. Nearly three months later, the Folsom Lake College women's soccer team finally experienced what it feels like to lose.  City College of San Francisco used their superior speed and deft ball handling to wear down the Falcons, culminating in yesterday's 2-0 victory for the Rams in the second round of the CCCAA state playoffs at CCSF. 

The first half was a repeat of Tuesday night's match with Feather River; two closely matched teams trading blows, neither one able to land a knockout punch. The half ended with the score tied at 0-0 and the game was every bit as close as the score.

Three minutes into the second half, the Rams cashed in on a chaotic jumble of bodies in front of the net to take a 1-0 lead.

"I'm really not sure how that ball went in or where it came from," said Falcons' assistant coach Martin Roberts. "It seemed to come out of nowhere."

Down by a goal and needing some breaks to go their way, the Falcons were stunned nine minutes later when CCSF scored another goal in the 57th minute. From this point on, the Rams relied on their stout defense to thwart any Falcons' scoring chances. 

"It's sad to see it end this way, but it has been an incredible season," said head coach Donny Ribaudo. "I'm more saddened by the fact that we won't get to play any more games than I am by the loss. I don't want the season to end."

The Falcons finish the season with a 19-1-3 record.