COD (11-8-2; 5-3) had the inaugural Inland Empire Athletic Conference title in hand before they even started their game on Friday, while the result was not ideal, the 2019 Conference Champions reside in the Coachella Valley.

On sophomore day the team honored six members of the team: midfielder Jose Reyes (Cathedral City H.S.), midfielder Jonathan Zambrano (Thermal Coachella Valley), forward Alejandro Pimentel (Thermal Desert Mirage), goal keeper Uriel Lopez (Palm Desert H.S.), midfielder Lucas Rosales (La Quinta H.S.) and midfielder Leonardo Garcia-Guerra (Palm Desert H.S.).

In a hotly contested game between two very good teams, it was a San Bernardino Valley goal in injury time at the end of the first half that proved to be the difference. Desert put in a ton of effort and fought hard throughout the contest, but unfortunately, could not get a shot into the back of the net.

The second consecutive Conference title is a first for the program since the beginning of the program back in 1978, winning a Desert Conference championship and then again in 1979, back in a time when Community College teams in California competed in "Large" and "Small" School Divisions.

The IEAC Soccer coaches will meet on November 19th to decide the Conference Coach of the Year award, the Conference MVP award and the All-Conference teams. Playoff teams are also expected to be announced later that day.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information, Photo & Story provided by COD Sports Information.