San Diego Mesa downs Lake Tahoe, 1-0, to put first state title within reach

Photo by David Sanborn
Photo by David Sanborn
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December 6, 2019

Tournament Central

CUPERTINO - An own goal in the 86th minute proved to be the difference on Friday morning as San Diego Mesa College edged Lake Tahoe Community College, 1-0, to earn a spot in Sunday's title game at the CCCAA Women's Soccer Championship at De Anza College.

The Olympians improved to 22-1-2 and will face defending state champion Santiago Canyon - a 1-0 winner of San Joaquin Delta - at 10 a.m. San Diego Mesa will be looking for its first title.

Friday's hard-earned matchup with Lake Tahoe - fell to Santiago Canyon in last year's final - was a defensive affair, featuring just 13 total shots. The Olympians put six of their eight shots on goal while the Coyotes found the frame on four of their first attempts. Other than those opportunities, two tough defenses battled it out well into the second half. But, in the 86th minute, San Diego Mesa sent a ball across the top of the box and a scramble ensued for control in the middle of it. A Coyote player made a valiant effort to try and clear it but instead inadvertently deflected it into the goal.

The Olympians had a golden opportunity to score just moments but Coyotes' goalie Madeline Smith made an unbelievable sprawling save off Violet Renard's close shot to the near-side post. Smith finished the day with five saves while counterpart Alyssa Warner had four.

Lake Tahoe finished its season with 21-1-2 mark.