Heartbreak: Falcons’ Season Comes to Abrupt End With 1-0 Playoff Loss

The reality of it didn't seem to sink in until the players were filing through the post-game handshake line.  But one by one, the tears began to well in their eyes as the realization hit them:  the 2014 FLC women's soccer season had come to an unexpected end on the fog-shrouded Falcon Stadium field.   In an epic battle that was as exciting as it was wet, the Cosumnes River Hawks prevailed over FLC, 1-0, on Saturday night. 

The teams appeared evenly matched as they traded possessions throughout the first half.  Unexpectedly, CRC broke through in the 33^rd minute with a goal by leading scorer Kate Burkhart -amid some confusion by the FLC defense- that turned out to be the difference in the game. 

With their backs seemingly against the wall, the Falcons came out in the second half as the aggressors.  For 45 minutes, the home team controlled the ball at their end with numerous scoring opportunities, but the Hawks survived the second-half barrage of Falcon shots that all seemed to find their way to a post, the crossbar, or the outstretched fingertips of the CRC goalkeeper.  With shots flying right until the final whistle, the Falcons did not go down without a fight.  FLC finished the season with a record of 17-5.