Heartbreaking loss ends MJC soccer season

The Modesto Junior College Pirates consoled each other with hugs and sobbed on the shoulders of friends. A record-setting season had just ended, and a painful loss was setting in.

“It’s going to be hard to let go,” forward Danielle Nava admitted.

The No. 2-seeded Pirates were beaten 1-0 in double overtime by 11th-seeded Cosumnes River on Saturday afternoon in the Northern California Regional semifinals. Modesto (20-2-2), the Big 8 Conference soccer champion for the first time, set a school record for victories but lost to a team it twice defeated in league play.

“You work from February until now. Only one team out of 32 walks away happy,” MJC coach Steve Aristotelous said. “We’ve gotten to this game five times. You knew it would be a one-goal game.”

That goal was netted via a deft free kick from about 25 yards out by freshman Erica Lim early in the second overtime. After a step-over by Kelsey Jantzen, Lim sent a dipping one-hopper around the MJC wall that curled inside the near post.

The Pirates, who had the edge over the Hawks in possession time, continued their assault over the remaining 12 minutes. Cosumnes River goalie Anna Brown repeatedly denied Modesto throughout the game and was beaten only once. But a header by Marissa Rouse, off a good pass by Harleen Pabla, caromed off the crossbar.

Rouse, prone and face down on the muddy turf at the MJC West Campus field slickened by morning rain, illustrated the Pirates’ frustration. They had won playoff games in the 120th and 119th minute to reach the semis.

“They (Cosumnes River) came out with a lot of strength. They came here to play,” Nava said. “We didn’t take advantage of the opportunities like we usually do. Something so small can cost you something so big.”

Cosumnes River (11-7-6), which finished fourth in the Big 8, trod carefully through long stretches but hardly performed like an underdog. Modesto needed a goal in the final 12 minutes for a 2-1 victory on Nov. 3 following a 5-2 verdict on Oct. 7. The more familiar the Hawks became with the Pirates, the more their chances grew.

“It’s tough to beat a team three times in our league when the teams are even,” Cosumnes River coach Cesar Plasencia said. “Modesto is a great team and had a great season. We were down to only 13 healthy players at the end.”

The better-quality chances were struck by Modesto. The Pirates applied major pressure in the final minutes of regulation, punctuated by a set piece just before the whistle. Cassandra Arteaga’s free kick barely missed the connection with Yaritza Arista and Rouse. Both lunged as the ball bounced beyond the far post.

Cosumnes River advances to face Fresno City on Friday in the NorCal final. Both will represent the region in the State Final Four while the Pirates reflect on a lot of success and one that got away.

“We did better than I ever imagined,” Nava summarized.

This story was originally published November 29, 2014 at 11:18 PM with the headline "Heartbreaking loss ends MJC soccer season."