Falcons can't hold onto lead in 2-1 loss to Santa Barbara
The Folsom Lake College women's soccer team saw their remarkable season come to a heartbreaking end on Friday night at American River College when they lost to Santa Barbara City College, 2-1, in the CCCAA state championship semi-finals. The Falcons held a 1-0 lead for most of the second half and never trailed in the match until the final four minutes of stoppage time, making the outcome a bitter pill to swallow. The two teams played to a scoreless first half, though both put shots on goal that their keepers managed to deny. Early in the second half, Falcon forward Andrea Martinez shook off a defender and drove toward the goal, then found teammate Keionna Claypoole for the easy goal and a 1-0 Falcon lead. If that sounds familiar, it was eerily similar to the play that scored the team's first goal last week against Santa Rosa. It also marked the first goal the Vaqueros had allowed in 14 matches - dating all the way back to Sept. 22 - and just their third allowed all season. The Falcons held that lead for 30+ minutes before Santa Barbara scored the equalizer in the 79th minute. The goal definitely energized the Vaqueros, who now looked to be gaining confidence with each passing minute. The two teams battled past the 90-minute mark – there had been a long injury stoppage earlier in the half – and it was the in stoppage time that Santa Barbara found the game-winning goal. With time running out, the Falcons desperately tried to tie the score but could do little against the stout Vaquero defense. The Falcons' season came to an end just one match short of their goal, but was still impressive as they finished at 21-2-2.