Preview: Women’s Soccer Earns South’s Top Seed in 3C2A State Championship Tournament
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Team Stats
Sierra
| Game Statistics | Sierra | Santiago Canyon |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 13 (9) | 17 (9) |
| Saves | 8 | 6 |
| Fouls | 9 | 15 |
| Corner Kicks | 6 | 7 |
| Offsides | 0 | 0 |
Every season begins the same way, early-spring training sessions that stretch into the long, hot days of summer. Familiar faces return, new faces arrive, and together they work to build a unit capable of competing for a championship when fall arrives.
That championship pursuit is never easy, and it seems to grow more demanding each year. But for the 2025 Santiago Canyon College women's soccer team, the dream has become a reality. The Hawks have earned the South's top seed in the 3C2A State Championship Tournament and are set to battle for another state title.
Santiago Canyon will compete for the program's fifth 3C2A State Championship under the leadership of head coach Ian Woodhead, who once again guides a squad poised to add to the program's impressive trophy collection.
The Hawks (17–2–5) will take on the North's second-seeded Sierra College Wolverines (17–2–4) in the state semifinals on Friday, December 5 at 1 p.m. at Saddleback College. With a win, they will advance to the state championship match on Sunday, December 7 at 10 a.m. to face either the North's top-seeded Folsom Lake College Falcons (22–0–2) or the South's second-seeded Golden West College Rustlers (15–4–6).
Admission will be charged daily for each round. General admission is $16, while students with a valid college ID, children under 11, and seniors 60+ will be charged $11. All tickets must be purchased online through the 3C2A's Hometown Ticketing website, as the event is cashless. Free live streaming will be provided by Overnght.
The Hawks earned their place in the final four with three wins in the 3C2A Southern Regional Championships after securing the No. 2 seed and finishing second in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC). They defeated No. 15 Bakersfield (1–0), No. 7 Santa Barbara (1–0), and No. 3 Long Beach (4–2) to punch their ticket to the state tournament.
Pinpointing the Hawks' greatest strength is a challenge. Offensively, they average 2.5 goals per game while holding opponents to just 0.58 goals per match. They have scored 60 goals this season and average 15 shots per contest.
The attack is led by sophomore standouts and first-team all-conference selections Mia Lussier and Ayleen Jimenez.
Lussier leads the Hawks with 13 goals, including a pair of second-half scores just four minutes apart in the regional final against Long Beach. She has recorded four multi-goal matches, highlighted by a hat trick in the home opener against San Bernardino Valley in August.
Jimenez follows closely with 11 goals. When she finds the back of the net, the Hawks have won every match this season. She carried a four-game scoring streak through late October and early November, tallying five goals in conference play during that stretch. Jimenez also leads the team in points (30) and assists (8), recording at least one assist in six matches and posting multiple assists twice.
Defensively, sophomore Karen Pedraza, the OEC Defensive Player of the Year, anchors a back line that has stifled opponents all season. She is joined by fellow all-conference defenders sophomore Jordyn Gallegos and freshman Melanie Salazar, forming a unit that rarely allows opponents room to operate.
The last line of defense is sophomore goalkeeper Makayla Worcester, a first-team all-conference selection who has recorded 50 saves, 14 wins, and an impressive .862 save percentage. She has tallied three or more saves in eight matches, including a season-high nine saves in the Southern Regional final against Long Beach. Across the regional tournament, she posted 14 saves and two clean sheets.
The Hawks now stand two wins away from another state championship. Please stay tuned to www.scchawks.com for all tournament information.
