Women's Soccer Punches Ticket to 3C2A State Championships
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 2 | 2 |
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1 | 3 | 4 |
Team Stats
Long Beach
| Game Statistics | Long Beach | Santiago Canyon |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 16 (11) | 13 (8) |
| Saves | 4 | 9 |
| Fouls | 7 | 14 |
| Corner Kicks | 5 | 7 |
| Offsides | 2 | 0 |
Ticket, punched.
There may not be a better phrase in a playoff setting. The No. 2–seeded Santiago Canyon College women's soccer team can scream it from the canyon and beyond after defeating the No. 3–seeded Long Beach City College Vikings, 4-2, in the 3C2A Southern California Regional Championships to advance to the state championship tournament for the first time since 2019.
The last time the Hawks reached the state championship tournament, they reigned supreme after defeating San Diego Mesa, 2–1. They will look to add to their trophy case with the tournament starting on Friday, December 5, at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA.
It was all gas and no brakes for the Hawks in a dogfight against Long Beach. As the match remained scoreless for the majority of the first half, the Hawks drew a corner kick in the 37th minute. Freshman Faith Ammann took the corner on the far side of the pitch and lofted a ball into the box that found the head of sophomore Rayleen Chairez. She connected and punched it past the outstretched goalkeeper to take a 1–0 lead into halftime.
It wasn't long into the second half before the Hawks struck once again on a set piece taken by Ammann in the 47th minute. Freshman Kristina Grimm was waiting on the other side of the pass to finish the job. She rose up and headed the ball into the back of the net to secure a 2–0 cushion.
The Hawks were not satisfied with a two-score lead—specifically sophomore Mia Lussier. Lussier took the reins of the offense for the remainder of the contest and scored in the 50th and 54th minutes.
Her first goal came from pure speed and athleticism as she broke the defensive plane on the near side of the field, drove to the goal, and powered through for a score. She followed four minutes later with a goal off a perfectly placed ball from freshman Melanie Salazar to extend the lead to 4–0.
Long Beach stayed true to its attack and was able to punch in goals in the 56th and 88th minutes, but it was too little too late as the Hawks held on for the victory.
Despite holding a sizable lead, the Hawks pressed the Long Beach half relentlessly throughout the contest. Grimm fired off two shots in a matter of three minutes to start the game, while Chairez backed Grimm with a blast. Sophomore Karen Pedrza, who typically finds herself locking down the opposing offense, reared back and tried her foot on a cleared ball from a Hawks corner kick.
Freshman Lexi Kotlar and Ammann recorded shots on goal in the second half, while sophomore Clarissa Huerta nearly punched in the Hawks' fifth goal of the game in the 73rd minute. She had a header narrowly saved, regained the ricochet, and fired just high of the goal.
Sophomore goalkeeper Makayla Worcester was money between the pipes, recording nine saves. She commanded the box on all set pieces and delivered a brilliant stop that preserved the Hawks' two-score lead at the time.
