MJC women win, men fall

It's on to the Northern California semifinals for the Modesto Junior College women's soccer team after an epic victory Tuesday.

Coach Steve Aristotelous called it "a game for the ages" after his players survived double overtime to beat host Diablo Valley 4-2 on penalty kicks.

"We have talked about this moment all year, and the girls came through in a big way," Aristotelous said. "This was a mirror image of the 2008 team that went to the Final Four."

Julie Lennert scored the tying goal late in the game. When it came down to penalty kicks, Modesto's first four shooters — Colleen Moore, Yosselin Alvarado, Jeanette Ruezga and Shawnee Justis — converted their shots. Modesto (15-4) next faces Santa Rosa (17-1-3), whose only loss is to Modesto, on Saturday. The game will be played in Santa Rosa.

• ARC 2, MJC MEN 0, at Sacramento — Modesto coach Joe Michelena said the Pirates just couldn't find a way to score in the second round of the NorCal playoffs. Goalkeeper Alonso Lara had five saves. Modesto (13-2-6) had beaten American River College twice this season en route to its Big 8 Conference title.