HAWKS SOAR ABOVE CANYONS

HAWKS SOAR ABOVE CANYONS

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The 2013 Cosumnes River women's soccer team approached the first week of the season with plenty of uncertainty.  Having lost offensive sparkplugs Jessica De Anda and Katie Ulan for the year before the season even started, CRC looked to be in for a difficult stretch given their brutal nonconference schedule.  However, the young Hawks have put together two quality performances to begin the year, including a quality victory over a talented Canyons team.

CRC came into today's match as underdogs, given the Cougars #7 national preseason ranking following an impressive 2012 campaign.  The Hawks looked to be more aggressive out of the gate prior to this match, and it showed, as Cosumnes River struck first to take a 1-0 lead.  Freshman midfielder Allison McKinnon lofted a shot over the head of the Canyons goalkeeper to net the first goal of her collegiate career, while Selina Barbosa picked up the assist.  Canyons continued their own relentless assault on the net, as freshman Hawks goalkeeper Anna Brown had five saves at halftime, leading CRC to a 1-0 advantage at halftime.

The lead wouldn't last however, as the Cougars offense tied things up at one midway through the second half.  The lead lasted until the 30th minute, when team captain Megan Gomez launched a free kick into the Canyons net to put the Hawks up for good (shown at right), solidifying the 2-1 victory.  "Good goals and plenty of growth for our team," said head coach Cesar Plasencia following the match.  Freshman goalie Brown picked up her first collegiate victory in the decision.

"We played well… really gutty win," said Plasencia of the victory.  "(Our) players worked very hard and earned a great win.  It was a great first win of the season."  Coach Plasencia was quick to lay praise on his freshman goalkeeper, as well as fellow freshmen Barbosa and Kylie Forbes.  "They were our players of the game."

CRC (1-0-1) looks to remain undefeated next week as they head south for a pair of contests against two perennial postseason performers.  They'll travel to Fresno to take on host Fresno City on Wednesday, followed by a meeting with 2012 national champion Cerritos College.  That match is scheduled for Friday.  Cosumnes River will return home on September 10 for a match against Butte.