With one game remaining in the conference season, both the LBCC men’s and women’s soccer teams are preparing to set their sights on a successful postseason.
The women’s soccer team recently clinched the South Coast Conference championship for the first time since 2005 after beating L.A. Harbor 1-0 on Oct. 21.
Currently, the team is 7-1 in the conference season and made a statement after defeating Pasadena 6-0 in their previous match.
The Vikings’ attackers will look to have their impact and presence known in the postseason as Diana Leon has scored 15 goals, Genesis Lopez with 14 and Evelyn Sandoval with 12.
Both women’s players, midfielder Paige Rodriguez and Evelyn Sandoval have set up six goals, while goalkeeper Vivian Toomey has kept seven clean sheets in the conference season.
The men’s soccer team has been in and out of performances this season with a 3-3-2 record but important wins against Mt. SAC, ELAC, and L.A. Harbor should drive the team onwards into the playoffs.
Their last outing against Rio Hondo ended in defeat by a scoreline of 2-1 but gave a hardworking performance against a very difficult opponent.
“After today’s performance, I think it’s going to be some motivation for our last two games to finish out the season strong and we will probably see these guys (Rio Hondo) in playoffs again but we will have to try and get them next time,” said men’s soccer player and midfielder Leo Sanchez on the loss to Rio Hondo.
Forward Deigo Albanez has the most goals for the men’s soccer team with seven and created 4 chances this season with Jesus Moreno scoring six for himself and setting up five assists. Midfielder Leo Sanchez also has racked up four goals.
The result against Rio Hondo for the men’s team means their chances of a home game in the playoffs seem unlikely but the women’s team will have home advantage in their first game of the playoffs.
Both teams have been faced with the problems of injuries as the women’s team will lose their starter midfielder Melanie Guerrero to an ankle injury and will be out for what appears to be the rest of the season.
The men’s team is facing a big issue as their captain and midfielder Jonathan Grado has been out of the squad for the last three games with a pulled groin and is racing against the clock to be back before the postseason begins.
“That’s the tricky part, we’re now going to have to manage and deal with a lot of injuries and today a big player went down with an ankle injury and that set us back a little bit. That is what we’re going to have to manage for the next few days and weeks,” said women’s soccer coach Eduardo Nunes.
The women’s team is seeking glory 17 years after the last team in 2005 won the conference championship and state title.
Both teams will be competing in the South Coast Conference tournament starting Nov. 4 and the California Community College Athletic Association Playoffs scheduled to start Nov. 17 and possible trips for both in the state championships.
Both teams play again at Los Angeles City College on Tuesday as both teams go all out for victory.