Cypress, OCC Could Meet Again

It’s almost impossible to separate the Cypress and Orange Coast women’s soccer teams.

They have been involved in some very emotional games, including a regional final last season.

Cypress won on penalty kicks to advance to the state tournament. Orange Coast, which had beaten Cypress twice in the regular season, went home.

This season, the teams met twice in conference with Cypress getting a 3-1 victory and a 1-1 tie. Cypress won the conference title for the fourth time in the program’s six years of existence. Orange Coast finished second.

There is a chance the teams will meet again, with a berth in the state tournament again on the line. Each would have to win in today’s first round of the Southern California playoffs.

“We’re not looking ahead,” Cypress Coach Ray Haas said. “I feel pretty good because we have a talented group. But are they going to step up? That’s the next story.”

Cypress is the state’s top-ranked team but seeded second in the Southern California playoffs behind Mt. San Antonio.

The inconsistently came about because the top criteria for seeding is victories. Mt. SAC is 17-0 and Cypress is 15-0-1.

Cypress, which has had four players score at least 11 goals, plays No. 7 Long Beach (15-2) at 7 tonight at Cal State Fullerton.

OCC (15-2-3) is seeded sixth and is at No. 3 Ventura (14-2) at 2 p.m.

The winners play in the second round Saturday and the winner of that game advances to the state tournament Dec. 7-8 at Consumnes River College in Sacramento.

Vedda Desatoff has 17 goals and 12 assists for Cypress. Colby Morgan has 15 goals, Lori Harris 12 and Lizzy Schilling 11.

Even with this much firepower, Cypress can’t take postseason success for granted.

Cypress reached the state final in 1993 only to lose on penalty kicks to De Anza. The Chargers lost to Santa Rosa in the semifinals last season.

Orange Coast has been hit by a series of injuries. The Pirates, who have won a state title (1989) and six conference titles in 15 seasons under Coach Barbara Bond, will probably be without forward Keri Lawson (five goals, three assists) today because of a knee injury.

Abbie Erickson leads OCC in scoring this season with 10 goals and five assists. Shannon Donegan has seven goals and 11 assists. Jessica Funke has 10 goals and two assists, and Megan Waters has eight goals and six assists.