Falcon Women Defeat Yuba to Clinch 3rd Straight BVC Title

By virtue of their 4-1 come-from-behind victory over Yuba College, the FLC women's soccer team clinched their 3^rd Bay Valley Conference championship in as many years on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville.  The Falcons fell behind early - for just the second time in a Bay Valley Conference match – when Yuba scored in the 20^th minute.  They didn't trail for long, though, as Sami Thomas crossed a perfect pass to Hannah O'Donnell for the tying goal in the 26^th minute.   The score remained tied at 1-1 until early in the second half, when Hannah Klinger scored on a header from point-blank range for the 2-1 lead.  With their confidence growing, the Falcons continued to pound away at the goal, sending waves of breakaways at the Yuba goalkeeper. In the 63^rd minute, Andrea Martinez drove to the box, then laid a nifty pass to Sami Thomas for an easy goal (photo below).  Two minutes later, Hannah O'Donnell fed Karina Torres for the Falcons' final goal.

Though the Falcons have two matches remaining, they have built an insurmountable six point lead (3 points for a win, one for a tie) over second-place Solano, who have just one match remaining.  The title is coach Donny Ribaudo's third since arriving at Folsom Lake to start the program three years ago.  The Falcons improved to 15-2-2 on the season and 13-0-1 in Bay Valley Conference play.  The women have a bye this Friday, then finish at Marin next Tuesday and home against Mendocino on November 13.