Suns Capture First Postseason Win in 13 Years
FARMERS BRANCH, Texas -- Dallas College Cedar Valley women's soccer team vowed the ride back to Lancaster would be eventful.
"It's going to be very loud on the bus," freshman midfielder Makayla Mohair said.
Cedar Valley won its first postseason game in 13 years, shutting out Dallas College Eastfield, 2-0, in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Mid-South District quarterfinals Tuesday night at Dallas College Brookhaven.
"I'm just insanely proud of this whole team," Suns freshman forward Ana Macias said. "We've definitely made a huge improvement with each and every game, and I felt like we definitely deserved this win. It's just a shot to prove ourselves in this conference because I know we're looked down upon a lot just because of the past years. But I have a lot of faith in this team, and I'm so proud of each and every girl. We definitely deserved this win, and I can't wait to play on Thursday."
The win sends Cedar Valley (5-11-1) on to Thursday's 4 p.m. semifinals against No. 1 nationally-ranked Dallas College Brookhaven (11-0-1) on the same field.
Briana Puente scored the gamewinning goal in the 32nd minute on an assist from Eva Zamudio. Zamudio added an insurance goal in the 83rd minute when she got behind the Harvester Bees' defense, and casually put the ball into the back of the net.
Feels good to win an @NJCAA_Soccer Mid-South quarterfinal. On to the semis.#DallasCollegeProud | #CedarValleySuns pic.twitter.com/P7R2bzBMJq
— CVC Athletics (@CVC_Suns) October 26, 2022
"We're coming in here, wanting to prove that we can do something for this program," Zamudio said after picking up her eighth point of the season. "We can do what we set our minds to."
The Suns' last postseason victory came on Oct. 23, 2009 when they beat then-North Lake College, 2-0, in the opening round of the Metro Athletic Conference Tournament.
"It's really hard to explain because they've come so far," first-year coach John Antonisse said. "Their attitudes have helped develop the team into what it is right now. They're just hard workers, and they do what I ask, and yes, sometimes they're difficult, but you know what? That makes 'em good because, you know what? They're not robots. They have minds of their own. Sometimes they have things that make you want to pull your hair out with, but I tell you what, I would not trade this in for anything. If anybody would have told me last year that we would win a quarterfinal game in the conference or regional tournament, I would've said, 'Whoa, that's amazing.'"
So this is what it feels like to win in the postseason for the first time since 2009, right @CVSunsSoccer & @JohnAntonisse?#DallasCollegeProud | #CedarValleySuns pic.twitter.com/bISwYFcV3O
— CVC Athletics (@CVC_Suns) October 26, 2022
Cedar Valley outshot Eastfield, 16-7, with the Suns sending 10 shots on frame. They forced Harvester Bees goalkeeper Paulina Herrea to make 10 saves.
Suns keeper Lawson McConnell picked up her fifth win of the season, stopping seven shots.
"It feels really good to start a winning culture for Cedar Valley, and this is only the beginning," Mohair said. "We celebrate tonight, but we move on, and we look forward to Brookhaven on Thursday."
Cedar Valley will be seeing the Bears for the third time this season.
"It's a big mountain to climb, but we've got to give it our best," Antonisse said. "We just have to fight and scratch and claw for everything we get, and hopefully come out and win. That's what we're here for."
