Dramatic penalty kick vaults MJC women’s soccer team into NorCal semifinals

A berth in the Northern California Regional soccer semifinals rested on the boot of Modesto Junior College freshman Jazlynn Satkamp.

The center-defender, a graduate of Enochs High School, was awarded a penalty kick in double-overtime, only a minute away from a heart-stopping round of penalty kicks. This was Modesto’s chance near sunset Tuesday afternoon.

“I was really nervous, but I had done penalty kicks during the season, so I was prepared,” Satkamp said. “I just took a deep breath.”

Satkamp hit her penalty kick, solid and sure, beyond the reach of Mendocino goalkeeper Adriana Borjon.

Modesto celebrated a dramatic 1-0 win, a school-record 20th victory and the continuance of its excellent season. The second-seeded Pirates will welcome fellow Big 8 Conference team Cosumnes River to the MJC West Campus field Saturday at 2 p.m. A win gives them a spot in the NorCal final and qualifies them for the state final four.

“Unbelievable,” coach Steve Aristotelous summarized.

It will be hard for Modesto to outdo itself after the first two playoff games. Tyler Fenton’s goal in the 120th minute last weekend was the difference in a 2-1 win over Delta. Three days later, MJC (20-1-2) again tested all pulse rates against Mendocino (19-4).

Yaritza Arista’s free kick, only a few yards from the corner flag, was sent low and toward the near post where Borjon – who denied Modesto many times Tuesday – bobbled the ball into traffic in front of the net. Harleen Pabla’s✔ shot caromed off the crossbar and back into the scrum, where Mendocino was called for a costly hand ball.

Aristotelous has coached Satkamp since she was 13. There was little doubt who would take the decisive penalty kick.

“We have some good penalty-kick shooters, and Jazlynn has taken them for me for a long time,” the coach said. “I call her the ‘Tin Woman’ (from “The Wizard of Oz”). She has no heart in situations like that – just ice water in her veins.”

Modesto dominated the run of play against seventh-seeded Mendocino, a stubborn side which placed second in the Bay Valley Conference. Borjon leaped, reached and dived to reject the Pirates all afternoon. Jenna Viss, Arista and others challenged the Eagles but couldn’t break through until the end.

In fact, Mendocino nearly stole the win in the final minute of regulation. A high-arcing shot sailed over MJC goalkeeper Elizabeth Amaya but bounced off the crossbar.

“Their goalie was fantastic. I felt bad for her at the end. I think she just took her eyes off of it,” Aristotelous said. “Mendocino drove for four hours and played hard for 120 minutes. I’m very happy for our girls.”

Modesto has reached the NorCal semifinals for the fifth time under Aristotelous. Only the 2008 team has taken the next step. The Pirates can achieve another milestone against 11th-seeded Cosumnes River, a team they’ve twice beaten this season.

“The Big 8 is nasty,” Aristotelous said. “It’s hard to beat a team in our league three times.”

One fact already favors the Pirates – they can handle the final minute.

This story was originally published November 25, 2014 at 9:44 PM with the headline "Dramatic penalty kick vaults MJC women’s soccer team into NorCal semifinals."