Cypress, Hartnell use early leads to set up CCCAA Women's Soccer Championship showdown on Sunday
WALNUT - Cypress College and Hartnell College used the same roads on Friday, opening leads of 2-0 before both holding off surges from Fresno City College and host Mt. San Antonio College to win a pair of 2-1 games in the CCCAA Women's Soccer Championship Semifinals, setting up Sunday's championship match at 10 a.m.
The wins send Cypress (20-1-2) looking for its fourth state championship but first since 2004 while Hartnell (21-2-2) is looking to claim its first state title and just NorCal's second since 2012. Links to watch all games from the state championship as well as links for photos and other information are available at the Tournament Headquarters here.
SEMIFINAL: (1S) Cypress 2, (2N) Fresno City 1
Brianna Cortez struck for the 24th time this season, hitting on a free kick from 30 yards out into the top left corner to stake Cypress to a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute as the Chargers took a lead they would never relinquish.
The teams were scoreless the first 26 minutes before a foul on Fresno gave Cortez an opportunity from 90 feet. Kicking it over the Rams' wall, she found the upper left corner of the goal to deliver the Chargers the led. Fresno put offensive pressure on in the latter minutes of the first half, taking three consecutive shots but only one of them - from Serina Oceguera - found its way on goal where it was saved by Siriana Gudino.
(Photo by Richard Quinton)
The Chargers turned the tables early in the second half when Anahi Diaz' fourth goal - the result of an own goal that found its way in after being deflected - made it 2-0 in the 49th minute.
The Rams, however, refused to go away, getting to within 2-1 in the 61st minute when Miriah Contereras' pass to Jacky Vazquez resulted in a score when Vasquez found the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season. Cypress locked down defensively the rest of the way turning away Fresno's threats.
Fresno outshot Cypress 17-6, including a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal, and benefitted from three saves from Cailyn Bawdon. Gaudino had six saves for Cypress.
SEMIFINAL: (1N) Hartnell 2, (2N) Mt. San Antonio 1
Hartnell picked up both of its goals in the first half and then survived a rally from Mt. San Antonio in the final two minutes that saw a goal and a last-second free kick from just outside the box nearly tie the game. The result was a Panthers' win that keeps them on their quest for the first-ever state championship.
The host Mounties had two early shots on goal as they tried to grab the early advantage but Audrie Mahassel's try in the third minute was saved by goalie Ency Soto while Jaquelynn Coronado's shot after a corner kick was stopped by Soto also.
Brianna Guerrero changed all that for Hartnell, though, scoring just north of the 32nd minute to put the Panthers in front 1-0. They held that lead for nearly the rest of the half before Jasmin Castillo found the goal just before halftime to make it 2-0.
Hartnell held Mt. San Antonio away for most of the second half and appeared to be on its way to a shutout win but Coronado took a pass from the right side from Kaylee Gutierrez before putting it into the right side of the goal, cutting the deficit to 2-1 in the 89th minute. The Mounties played frantically in the final seconds and were awarded a free kick from about 30 yards on the game's final play but Allen's try was just left of the goal and the final whistle sounded just after.
Mt. San Antonio outshot Hartnell 14-9 but the Panthers held a 6-5 advantage on shots on goal. Leila Peregrina finished with five saves for the Mounties while Soto had three.