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2005 Regional
Championship Results:
Updated: 11/14/05
[Northern
California] [Southern California]
REGIONAL
PREVIEWS:
LONG BEACH LANDS TOP SEED IN SOUTH; WEST VALLEY IS TOPS IN NORTH
NORTH- West
Valley is the clear-cut favorite in the north to reach the State Tournament
and defend its last two titles. The Vikings earned the top seed for
this weekend’s Northern California Regional Playoffs, but the only
two teams to push them this year reside in the Southern California.
Diablo Valley claimed the Big 7 title, but four other members of that
conference also reached the post-season. Diablo Valley is in good position
to earn another trip to the State Tournament, especially as the host
of the Northern California Regional Playoffs. The rest of the field
is separated by a single goal, so the final spot in the north is up
for grabs. Modesto beat Merced by one goal to reach the Big 7 title
game, while Merced lost the third place game to Santa Rosa by one goal.
And of course, Santa Rosa needed overtime to get past Delta, so expect
a battle for the final slot between those four teams.
SOUTH- Long
Beach crushed Cerritos, 14-4, to win the South Coast title and claim
the top seed in the playoffs. The Vikings have beaten the second seeded
Rustlers by a goal twice, but also lost to them once by five. Golden
West needed a one-point game to get past Orange Coast to win the Orange
Empire title and set up possible trip to Fresno. The Rustlers have won
more State Titles than any other program, but they will have to win
the SoCal title to keep from meeting West Valley on the first day of
the State Tournament. Golden West is the only team to reach the post-season
out of the Orange Empire, which is normally the regions strongest circuit.
Grossmont won the Pacific Coast title to earn the third seed and a date
with #6-seed LA Valley. The Griffins had a pretty comfortable time winning
their title against this year’s toughest conference. Three of the
five teams in the PCC reached the playoffs and only the seven-team South
Coast Conference supplied more teams to the playoffs. LA Valley missed
its chance for the WSC title in the final :20 of the title game and
will be ready to take it out on the Griffins on Friday. Cerritos and
Cuesta will hook up for the third time this year with the winner of
the rubber match moving onto a Saturday’s semi-final. The Falcons
and Coach Joe Abing will be trying to make their second straight trip
to the State Tournament. Cuesta has not been to the State Tournament
since 2000, but has won the last two WSC titles under second-year coach
John Marsh. Chaffey and Palomar will playoff on Wednesday in Rancho
Cucamonga for the right to face Golden West in the first round and Mt
San Antonio and SD Mesa will match up in Walnut on Wednesday. The winner
of the Mounties and Olympians will meet Long Beach on Friday.
-Pete Schuler,
Cuesta College
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