MERCED — Three days after beating the No. 1 seed , the Hawks men’s soccer team suddenly became the favorites. They were one win away from winning the NorCal Regional bracket of the California Community College Athletic Association playoffs and earning a trip to the state tournament.
But it wasn’t to be. Their run ended with a 3-1 loss to Merced College. The Hawks have been knocked out of contention.
The third round is the furthest the Hawks have made it in the history of the men’s soccer program, etching their names in the LPC history books. This deep playoff run also makes LPC an attractive destination for many incoming freshman athletes for years to come.
Still, the loss stings. The team hoped for an even greater run, pushing towards their first-ever state tournament berth. But with a heartbreaking loss, so comes learning opportunities for the future.
“As much as we’re heartbroken about this situation and this loss,” freshman forward Saul Tecle said, “we know to keep our heads up. There is more to come.”
The playoffs couldn’t have started much better for the Hawks. They traveled to San Joaquin to play the Mustangs, beating them down 5-1. Then, they took their bus to face Evergreen Valley, one of the best teams in the state and the No. 1 seed, before shutting them out 2-0. The last hurdle between them and the state tournament was a trip to Merced to face the Blue Devils.
Being on the road wasn’t the problem for the Hawks. Coming into the contest, they held an impressive 9-1-2 record, including their two road playoff wins. If anything, the group looked forward to playing in front of loud and intense crowds.
But on Tuesday, they looked like a different team from the one to knock off the top seed. They allowed three goals against the Blue Devils after only giving up one combined in their two previous playoff matches.
Four minutes into the game, Las Positas trailed after giving up a score to the Blue Devils’ Angel Sanchez.
Following the quick goal, the tempo reverted back to the intensity assumed of a playoff match. Both teams struggled to find their footing, the physicality leading to minimal goal-scoring chances.
In the second half, the Hawks playoff hero rose to the occasion once again. Freshman midfielder Frank Hinostraza, who scored both of the Hawks goals in their 2-0 defeat over Evergreen, found the net for the fourth time in the postseason. It came within the first five minutes of the half, tying the game at 1-1. Arteen Arianmanesh was credited with the assist.
The goal was short-lived. Just 10 minutes after the equalizer, the Blue Devils scored again. The Blue Devils’ offense became too much for the Hawks’ defense to handle, leading them to controlling much of the second half. In the 80th minute, the Blue Devils sealed the victory, ultimately winning 3-1.
“We anticipated them to have a weak point like every other team,” Tecle said. “But (Merced) were really good all around, and I think this played a major factor in the final score.”
ASSIST MAN: Freshman midfielder Arteen Arianmanesh (No. 21) taking the ball up the field against the Merced Blue Devils. Arianmanesh assisted on Frank Hinostroza’s goal, the Hawks first and only goal of the game. (Photo by Justin Gomes/The Express)
The Blue Devils capitalized on passing, providing assists to players and opening opportunities to score a goal. They delivered with execution, making them a formidable opponent.
A team like Merced couldn’t have been underestimated, a former match the Hawks faced just two months prior ended in a 1-1 tie. Both teams similar to the prior matchup, saw both sides struggling to get the offense going. The win would come to the team whose offense would capitalize on any defensive miscues..The Blue Devils showed up, played their game and were able to walk away with a win, sending the Hawks to an earlier offseason than they would have liked.
Despite the ending not being what the Hawks had hoped for, this was a season of progress. Never before had they reached these heights. Now, with a taste of the third round of the NorCal playoffs, they are even hungrier for higher peaks.
“Our sophomores and our freshmen this year did a good job of setting a bar higher than it has been before, by getting through (to) the third round,” assistant Coach Cristian Barbontin-Jimenez said. “Expectations are higher for the freshmen coming in and for the sophomores that are going to (return) next year. I think it made us realize we are able to compete with everyone.”
Top photo: The Hawks were defeated by the Merced Blue Devils in the third round of the 3C2A NorCal regional playoffs on Tuesday Nov. 26 at UC Merced’s Bobcat Field. The third round is the furthest the program has gone in their history. (Photo by Justin Gomes/The Express)
Luke Vavuris is the Photography Editor and a Staff Writer for The Express. Follow him on X, formally Twitter, @Luke5068.
