Women’s Soccer Closes 2018 With Winningest Season in Program History

2018 Women's Soccer Team
2018 Women's Soccer Team

On November 20, 2018, Sierra College Women's Soccer made history with their 22nd win of the year, a 2-0 playoff blanking of Santa Rosa. This win saw the 2018 season surpass the 21 win record set by the 2002 team as the winningest season in program history.

Sierra kicked off the season with 20 straight wins, 12 of which were shutouts, along with leading the state in goals scored for the majority of the season. With a regular season mark of 20-1-1, Sierra garnered the #1 NorCal seed, and would host all three rounds of postseason play.

The Wolverines took care of business against Butte in round one of the playoffs, dispatching the Roadrunners 3-0 on November 17. Against Butte, Sierra shot 14 times, 11 on goal, with three shots finding the back of the net. Sierra kept Butte at bay throughout the match, with the Roadrunners making just one shot all match (with no shots on goal). Maddy Morrison was responsible for two of Sierra's goals, while Alexis Day scored the first goal of the day just 12 minutes into the match.

In round two, Sierra met Big 8 rival Santa Rosa for the third time in 2018. Sierra had won both previous matches, 2-1 on Sep. 25, and 2-1 on Oct. 26. In the playoff match, it was scoreless through the first half, but Sierra book things open in the second, scoring two goals, one from Maddy Morrison with an assist from Grace Vargas, and the second by Christina Kanellou from Keely Fink.

In round three, Sierra was once again set up for a rematch of an earlier season game, this time taking on Lake Tahoe, who Sierra had tied just over two weeks prior (1-1 on Nov. 6). Sierra outshot Lake Tahoe 15-12 (12-9 on goal) but it was Lake Tahoe who was able to find a way past the Wolverine defense, scoring twice in the first half. Although holding off the Tahoe offense for the second half, Sierra was unable to rally, falling 2-0 and finishing the season 22-2-1.

In 2018, Sierra added a stellar season to the record books, recording 104 goals for an average of 4.16 goals per match and a team shot percentage of .260.