Two OEC Squads Earn Southern Regional Crown & Advance to State Championships
The Golden West College Rustlers will represent the top seed for the men, while the Orange Coast College Pirates will act as the top seed for the women for the CCCAA State Championships starting this weekend.
The Golden West College Rustlers will represent the top seed for the men, while the Orange Coast College Pirates will act as the top seed for the women for the CCCAA State Championships starting this weekend.
MEN
The Golden West College Rustlers defeated Cuesta, 18-9, to claim their eighth-consecutive Southern Regional Championships and their 35th inprogram history. They will enter this weekend's State Tournament as the south's top seed. Cuesta earns the second seed in the tournament after claiming the runner up title.
The Rustlers jumped out to a substantial lead by scoring the opening six goals of the game. Offensive tandem Felipe Ferreira and Eamon Hennessey to grab an early 6-0 lead. From then on, it was all Rustlers as they scored four more goals in the following frame to extend their lead to eight scores.
Ferreira led with four goals after firing off seven shots, while Hennessey inked three goals and assisted on two other goals.
Goalkeepers Garret Henderson and Braeden Sanders split time between the pipes with Henderson earing the win and Sanders tallying six saves.
WOMEN
The Orange Coast College Pirates have reached the State Championship tournament for the first time since 2005 after defeating top-seeded Santa Barbara, 10-7, to claim the Southern Regional title. They will enter as the top seed.
The Pirates dug deep after falling behind 3-0 after the first frame. In the second period, sophomore Julian Duwe put the team on her back by firing home three goals with support from Destiny Hernandez who sent in the final score of the first half with three seconds left. The score tied the game up at four all.
It was a back and forth affair from then until Santa Barbara took a late one goal lead. However, three timely goals from the Pirates led them to a 10-9 win despite a late push from the Vaqueros.
Annabelle Sherman earned the win after tallying 18 saves. Duwe led with four goals, while Ana Nardelli followed with three goals. Natalia Stanard led with three assists.
Release by Nicho DellaValle, CCCWPCA SID