Long Beach City College Claims Second Consecutive and Record Third Hyundai California community College Women's Soccer Championship

LEMOORE, Calif. - Less than 24 hours after Cypress College became the first team in final four history to battle back from a two-goal deficit to win, Long Beach City College turned the same trick against the Chargers.

Freshman forward Kim Jents scored the equalizer in the fifth minute of stoppage time at the end of regulation play, then Jennifer Harencame scored the winner in the 107th minute, as top-seeded Long Beach shocked previously undefeated Cypress, 3-2, to capture its second consecutive
Hyundai-California State Community College women's soccer title at Oliveira Ranch soccer complex.

Jents scored a goal and added two assists, as her goal gave her 32 for the season to equal the school's single-season record. Meanwhile, sweeper Cheech Gibson was named most valuable player for the tournament. The sophomore is considering scholarship offers from San Diego State and Cal State-Fullerton.

The championship is the third all-time for the Vikings, establishing a new state record. They also won in 1997, as either Beach and Cypress have won each of the last five state crowns. Mt. San Antonio and DeAnza also own two state women's soccer crowns, as the state is celebrating its 25th season of state-sanctioned women's athletics.

On the game-winner, Jents started the play with a pass from the left corner, as Ebony Stone, who scored Beach's first goal, this time was stopped by Cypress goalie Jessica Orr. However, no Chargers player was able to clear the rebound, as Harencame ran on and smacked the ball over Orr and just under the crossbar.

Trailing 2-0, Stone scored when Jents corner kick landed square on her boot, sending a short, 9-footer past Orr. Then in the fifth minute of eight "added-on" minutes due to three second-half injuries, the roles were reversed as Stone fed Jents to tie the game. Laci Gruner also garnered an assist.

Cypress took a 2-0 lead through the opening 45 minutes. Holly Rife scored in the 11th minute on assists by Sara Jane McIntyre and Shannon Leslie. Then in the 37th minute, a corner kick by Breanne Crowley was headed home by Katie Eatherton.

Cari Delaney was the winning goalie. She matched Orr with 13 saves each, including all 10 in the second half and overtime combined.

Cypress entered the game without a loss but two ties, while Long Beach dropped a conference contest to Pasadena. However, the Vikings were awarded the top-seed over the Chargers based on a power rating system, boosted by victories over NJCAA powers Dixie College of Utah and Mesa College of Arizona.

QUOTES:

Gibson: "We've been down 2-0 before and fought back to win. Against Mt. San Antonio, we were down by two at the half, but won 3-2 without going to overtime. It just showed that everybody kept their heads in the game and were determined to win.

Reported by Nick Pellegrino, Soccer Championship PR Director