Falcon women looking to defend Big 8 title
The Folsom Lake College women's soccer team will open their fifth season on Friday night, August 25, at Cabrillo College in Aptos with hopes of continuing their phenomenal run of success. Since their inaugural season in 2013, the Falcons have won four straight conference titles – three as members of the Bay Valley Conference and one (2016) as co-champions of the Big 8 Conference – and have qualified for the CCCAA state playoffs in each season.
The 2017 Falcons feature several returning starters from their 2016 team, including Big 8 all-conference 1st team forward Keionna Claypoole and all-region defender Megan Trent at center back. Other key returnees for the Falcons include forward Andrea Martinez (2015 Bay Valley Conference "Freshman of the Year"), midfielders Paige Verneuille and Britney Johnson, outside back Jimena Jovel (who sat out 2016 with an ACL tear), and forward Kaylin Johnson.
FLC head coach Donny Ribaudo is also excited about the crop of new players on his roster. Freshman midfielder Riley Spitzer (Oakmont HS) and freshman forward Shayla Merene - who recently moved to Folsom with her family from Bowie, Maryland – are expected to provide valuable minutes for the Falcons. Sophomore transfers Tiara Webb (forward, Univ of San Francisco) and Rachel Roberts (defender, San Diego Christian College) also look to have an impact.
Coach Ribaudo predicts the Big 8 to be another dogfight for the title with Diablo Valley (2016 co-champions) and Santa Rosa (3rd place in 2016) leading the way. The Falcons will open their home schedule on Friday, September 1 with an afternoon match against Solano College, their first of 11 home matches.