Men’s soccer: OCC reaches finals

LEMOORE - The Orange Coast College men’s soccer team capped its

best season in a decade with a 3-0 loss to Santa Ana in the state

championship game Sunday at the Lemoore Sports Complex.

The Dons, who had their 70-game winning streak ended at the hands of

the Pirates in Orange Empire Conference play (a 3-2 verdict Nov. 6)

dominated the third clash with OCC this season.

Santa Ana’s Mauro Barron scored in the 16th minute to account for the

1-0 halftime lead, then found the net again three minutes into the second

half to widen the margin.

Alejandro Licea finalized the scoring for the Dons (20-1-4), who

captured their third consecutive state crown.

OCC (19-3-4) had its three shots on goal in the second half.

Estancia High product Hilario Arriaga had seven saves and backup

keeper Chris Coburn had two for the Pirates, who finished second behind

Santa Ana in the OEC.

“We had a great year and I’m very proud of our players,” OCC Coach

Laird Hayes said. “Our kids didn’t play scared or anything today, Santa

Ana was just the better team.

“(The Dons) were gracious winners and it’s becoming a real rivalry. We

only lose five sophomores, so we’ll have a bunch of returners to make a

run at them next year.”

OCC’s other loss to Santa Ana was a 3-1 verdict in conference play.

Eduardo Luna had three saves for the Dons Sunday.

“Having OCC and Santa Ana in the state final says a lot about the

strength of the Orange Empire Conference,” Hayes said. “At the beginning

of the year (assistant coach) Kevin Smith came up to me and said,

‘Wouldn’t be great if OCC and Santa Ana played for the state

championship?’ ”

In Saturday’s semifinals: OCC trailed unbeaten and untied Santa Rosa,

1-0, when Spenser McDearmon tied the game two minutes into injury time

(92nd minute) to extend their season into overtime.

After a 30-minute overtime, both teams were still deadlocked at 1-1,

forcing the game into penalty kicks.

In the penalty kicks, goals by Chris Wimmer and John Gump gave the

Pirates a 2-1 advantage.

Arriaga came up with a huge save on the next Santa Rosa attempt and

when Aaron Siemer found the back of the net, OCC led, 3-1.

Santa Rosa scored, cutting the lead to 3-2 and when an OCC attempt was

stopped, the Pirates’ lead was in jeopardy.

But Santa Rosa’s Trebor Hartley, who scored the team’s lone goal in

regulation, was denied on a great save by Arriaga.

Matt Moseley followed with a goal, sending the Pirates to the final.

Santa Ana reached the final by defeating Fresno City, 1-0.