ELK GROVE, Calif. - Cosumnes River College women's soccer coach Cesar Plasencia announced the program's 2013 schedule today.
The Hawks begin a brutal non-conference schedule later this month, which will continue through the end of September, when Big 8 conference play begins. Cosumnes River will play 14 contests against Big 8 opponents this season, half of which will be at home.
CRC returns only five players from last season's team, which saw the Hawks make the postseason once again. They'll rely heavily on their sophomores this season, given their relative youth at a number of key positions. "We are really going to have to do it with teamwork," says head coach Cesar Plasencia, who begins his tenth season at the helm. Team captain and 2012 Hawk of the Year, Megan Gomez, will once again play a large role this season for CRC. The team adds a pair of talented junior college transfers in Kylee Daly and Vilma Gonzalez as well. Gonzalez, a transfer from American River College, will take over a lot of the scoring responsibility. Daly, who played forward at Long Beach City College, will look to contribute some experience to a young team.
This year's schedule includes a brutal collection of non-conference matches against Solano, Canyons, Fresno City, Cerritos, Butte and Evergreen Valley. Matches begin with the debut of the brand-new CRC soccer fields, with the Hawks home opener against Solano on August 27. That match is scheduled for a 5:30 start time. They continue two days later, when the Hawks play host to visiting Canyons on August 30. Kick off for that match is scheduled for 4 PM.
The difficult scheduling continues through September, as the Hawks begin the month on the road for a pair of matches against perennial postseason contenders Fresno City and Cerritos on September 4th and 6th, respectively. CRC returns home the next week to host visiting Butte College, on the 10th. Cosumnes River takes to the road for one more match, this time against bay area foe Evergreen Valley (Sept. 18), before heading north the following week to open Big 8 play.
CRC opens Big 8 competition on the road against rival Santa Rosa Junior College on September 24. They'll return home the following Friday for their conference home opener against Modesto JC (Sept. 27). The Hawks final home game will be played on November 13, against crosstown rival American River College. All home games played during the day will take place at 3:30.
Cosumnes River will also host three night matches this season, which will be held at CRC Stadium. The first one will see the Hawks host Big 8 foe Sierra College on October 11. CRC will then play the Mustangs of San Joaquin Delta on the turf on November 5th to close out the season series. The final night match will take place on November 13, when the Hawks close out their conference schedule against American River.
The 2013 season will be an exciting one at Cosumnes River College for soccer, as the college will once again play host to the CCCAA men's and women's state championships. The matches will take place on December 6 and 8, on the newly constructed CRC soccer fields.
Tickets are available at the gate for each event. Admission is always free for CRC faculty, staff, and students with valid identification.