Contact: Natalie Driggers, SIO, West Hills College

Phone: (559) 935-0801 x3251

Lemoore, Calif. – Santa Ana College has done what no other men’s California Community College soccer team has done. It has won three state titles in a row. In fact, only two teams before had won as many as two championships in a row since they started keeping track of these things in 1974.

But the Dons overcame the odds and captured their third straight crown, snagging the 2000 Hyundai California Community College Men’s Soccer Championship from Orange Coast College, 3-0, in the finals at Lemoore Sports Complex.

The Dons wanted this game so badly they could taste it. Orange Coast had ended Santa Ana’s 70-game unbeaten streak a couple of weeks ago, and SAC wanted nothing more than to atone for the lone blemish on their 2000 dance card.

The Dons seized early control of the game and did not relinquish it. Tournament Most Valuable Player Elias Ferrel, who led the Dons Sunday with two goals , got the scoreboard going. His first score was in the 17^th minute off of a pass from Mauro Barron, and SAC made it stand up all the way to intermission with a 1-0 advantage.

Ferrel’s second goal came three minutes into the second half, and it was a crushing blow for an OCC squad that was having problems generating any sort of attack. The tally came on a cross from Oscar Retiz. Roberto Fuentes finished the scoring for Santa Ana with a goal in the 86^th minute.

Orange Coast was held to only 5 shots the whole game, which were all saved by Don goalkeeper Juan Martinez. The Dons' speed and aggressiveness was too much for the Pirates to handle on this day..

Santa Ana lived on Coast’s half of the field almost all game, taking 19 shots. Coast goalkeeper Hilario Arriaga had eight saves.

In the two games it played in the tournament, Santa Ana allowed only ten shots on goal and shut out both opponents.

Ferrel scored two goals and added one assist in the tournament, and the sophomore received Most Valuable Player honors.

Santa Ana finished its season 21-1-4, while Orange Coast was 19-4-4.

Orange Coast 0 1 — 1

Santa Rosa 1 0 — 1

SR — (49^th minute) Trebor Hartley (unassisted)

OC — (87^th minute) Spencer McDearmon (unassisted)

Santa Ana 1 0 — 1

Fresno CC 0 0 — 0

SA — Roberto Fuentes, 41^st minute (Elias Ferrel assist)

Lemoore, Calif. — The best from the south beat the best the north could provide Saturday (December 2) in the semifinals of the 2000 Hyundai California Community College Soccer Championships at Lemoore Sports Complex.

Now Orange Coast College will try to block its Orange Empire Conference arch rival, Santa Ana College, as it drives for a third consecutive state championship in Sunday's finals at 2 p.m.

Santa Ana controlled the action against Fresno City College from the beginning, although the score, a 1-0 triumph for the Dons, didn’t show it.

The Dons out-shot the Rams 24-5, but scored only on freshman Roberto Fuentes’ goal in the 41^st minute. Elias Ferrel had the assist.

Rams goalkeeper Matt Buckman had nine saves in the game while the Don’s freshman keeper, Eduardo Luna, had two.

The Dons came out slow in the first half, and Head Coach J.P. Frutos was worried that the fog and cold of the Central California was affecting his players. But they picked up the pace in the second half, and held the Rams in check.

It was the Ram’s first loss and ended their season at 17-1-6. The Dons improved to 20-1-4.

In other men’s action, Orange Coast College (19-3-4) gave Santa Rosa Junior College (20-1) its first loss this year on penalty kicks, 4-2, after the teams played to a 1-1 tie through two overtime periods.

Santa Rosa scored at the 49th minute on sophomore Trebor Hartley’s goal. He dribbled past his defenders and got his shot past the diving keeper, Hilario Arriaga.

Santa Rosa controlled most of the game with their finesse play, but Orange Coast’s Spencer McDearmon pushed the ball in the goal off of a rebound from a corner kick to tie the game at 1-1. The score was in the 87^th minute, and regulation ended with the teams still tied.

Arriaga's moment to shine came after regulation and overtime was completed. The Pirates' outstanding keeper blocked two of Santa Rosa’s five kicks. Orange Coast was able to get four past Santa Rosa keeper Jeff Gibson, and the celebration began.

Santa Ana will be seeking revenge in tomorrow’s final. Not only are the two teams bitter rivals, but Orange Coast was the squad that ended the Don’s 70-game unbeaten streak in November.