The women’s soccer team played a physical regular season opener against the Las Positas College Hawks on Tuesday, winning 4-1.
Cosumnes River College head coach Cesar Plasencia said the team’s philosophy involved gaining control of the ball in order to take control of the game. They were able to dominate the time of possession, keeping pressure on Las Positas. CRC held a 1-0 lead in the first half and answered Las Positas’ single goal in the second half with three goals in the last 30 minutes.
“First game of the season, we’ve got to make sure we keep things in the proper perspective,” Plasencia said. “We’ve got a lot of freshmen. They’re learning what is expected and how we want to play.”
Plasencia said the team has a balanced mix of experience and talent between the returning sophomores and recruited freshmen. He said he’s excited to see how the team can grow together throughout the season.
Freshman forward Sadie Stoll scored CRC’s second goal of the game, her first, to put them back in the lead.
“I got the ball and I saw it was one v. one,” Stoll said. “I just knew to go straight to goal and I saw the goalie coming at me, so I knew I had to slot it, have faith in it and it went in.”
Stoll said she has roughly 15 years of experience playing soccer, but felt nervous coming into collegiate soccer.
“This team is amazing. Everybody is so nice,” Stoll said. “We’re such a family and we’re only going to get better from here, so I’m so excited just to be a part of this team and to be here.”
Sophomore goalie Mellanie Chernay sent a Las Positas player to the athletic trainer in the first half and CRC received one yellow card. Cosumnes continued their aggressive approach, allowing three shots on goal, relative to the 14 shots on goal taken.
Chernay is a transfer student from Folsom Lake College, making this her first season with CRC.
“I’m here to play and compete,” Chernay said. “I think coming from Folsom at a competitive level, winning state from last year leaves me at a good confidence level and I’m here to bring up the team and support my teammates and have a good season.”
Chernay said she’s excited for the season, keeping “Final Four” expectations high and plans to win it all this year. She said the coach has done a good job conditioning the players and her personal goal is to stay calm through the season.
CRC will play their next game on Sep. 3 at home against the Los Medanos College Mustangs, who lost 9-1 against the Modesto College Pirates on Tuesday.