MJC men ready to face Yuba in playoff opener

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The Modesto Junior College men's soccer team is seeded fourth and will meet Yuba in the first round of the Northern California Playoffs on Saturday at 2 p.m. at MJC West.

The Pirates (10-4-6) defeated Yuba, the Bay Valley Conference champion, 2-0 on Sept. 3. A win will earn MJC another home match in the second round of the 14-team playoffs.

"It's a brand new season," MJC coach Joe Michelena said. "If we do what we're capable of doing, we should get the result."

Eric Cortez, a sophomore, leads Modesto with 11 goals and two assists.

• MJC WOMEN'S SOCCER — The Pirates (12-6-3) missed a home playoff game by 1/1,000th of a power ratings point and must travel to Big 8 Conference rival Sierra for the first round of NorCals Saturday at 2 p.m. Modesto has split two close matches with Sierra, as each won on the other's home turf. The Pirates' league-opening loss to Sacramento City, which won only two games, cost them a home game.

"We've actually played better on the road than at home," coach Steve Aristotelous said. "Sierra and us are mirror images. It should be another close one."

The Pirates placed third in the state in 2008. They finished third in the Big 8 this season at 7-4-3, the same record as last fall.

• MJC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY — Freshman Shannon Peters and sophomore Sophia Villalobos will lead the Pirates into the State Championships Saturday at Fresno's Woodward Park. The women's 5-kilometer race will start at 10 a.m. The MJC team qualified for State by placing fifth at the NorCals two weeks ago at Belmont. Peters placed ninth at the NorCals and Villalobos was 15th, one spot out of All-NorCal recognition.

"We weren't excited by finishing third in league," coach Mary Shea said. "I think the girls want to make a difference at state. A finish in the top 10 is a good goal."

• MJC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY — The Pirates will make their fifth straight appearance at the State Championships. The 4-mile race begins at 11 a.m. today at Woodwark Park. MJC will be led by sophomores Anthony Mallory, who earned All-NorCal honors by placing 13th two weeks ago, and Ronnie Bruce, who was 15th at the NorCals.