Cerritos College's men and Santiago Canyon College's women captured their first COA soccer championships, the fourth successive sweep of state junior college titles by Southern California schools.
Santiago Canyon (25-1-1), from Orange, stunned three-time champion Cypress, 2-0, in the women's final on second-half goals by Kathleen Benton and Megan Konishi. The Hawks, whose lineup features Sarah Califf, sister of former MLS defender Danny Califf, were 0-1-1 against Cypress (24-2-2) during the regular season.
Cerritos (20-3-5) edged Taft, 1-0, on midfielder Juan Huerta's 36th-minute goal to capture its first COA soccer crown. Defender Eusebio Alvarez, who led to Falcons to two 1-0 victories in the final four, was selected tournament MVP.
The Commission On Athletics (COA), which governs junior college sports in California, is not affiliated with the NJCAA, and California schools do not participate in NJCAA events. COA competition is generally deemed superior to that in the NJCAA.
-- Scott French
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