In a heart-stopping overtime thriller the SRJC women’s soccer team vanquished the Southern California No. 1 seed Santiago Canyon Hawks 4-3 to win the 2011 CCCAA state championship. It is the first-ever SRJC women’s soccer CCCAA state title.
The Big 8 Conference Outstanding Player of the Year Cara Curtin swarmed up and down the field throughout the championship match attacking Santiago Canyon relentlessly, scoring all four goals for the Bear Cubs.
SRJC won its fifth straight Big 8 conference title this season compiling an overall record of 20-1-3 going 10-1-3 in conference play. During the semifinals on Dec. 3, the Bear Cubs defeated Cypress College 2-nil advancing SRJC to the state final.
This year was the fourth time SRJC has ever played in a game that would decide the state champion. The Bear Cubs previously fell short in 1991, 2008 and 2010. After finishing last year’s regular season undefeated and cruising to the state final, SRJC lost to San Bernardino Valley 1-nil with the only goal coming off a penalty kick.
During the state championship game, the Bear Cubs battled through seven lead changes surviving several momentum swings and allowing a season high three goals. Refusing to lose and never quitting, SRJC endured multiple corner kicks, a successful penalty kick and two tough overtime periods, displaying the team’s mental toughness on route to victory.
“That was easily the best game I have ever been a part of. The twist and turns in that game just made it an absolutely incredible game,” head coach Luke Oberkirch said.
During his first season with SRJC, Oberkirch navigated the team to a state championship to bring Northern California its first CCCAA state championship since American River College won it in 1996.
The Bear Cubs took the lead 12 minutes into the championship game against the Hawks when Curtin handled a high pass from Alexis Johnson, but was able to slide the ball past the keeper. The Bear Cubs seemed to have control entering halftime leading 1-nil, however, the Hawks returned in the second half playing exceptionally aggressive.
Santiago Canyon scored 19 minutes into the second half after SRJC defenders were caught off guard crowding the right side of the net. Six minutes later, the Hawks took the lead on a penalty kick after Cami James was whistled for pushing in the box.
SRJC was 2:15 away from elimination when the officials called a hand violation in the box on Santiago Canyon providing an equalizing opportunity for Curtin. Curtin fooled the Hawk’s goaltender with a squib kick into the corner of the net sending the game into overtime, 2-2.
Two 15-minute periods of overtime play would decide the state championship. With three and a half minutes left on the clock in the first overtime period, Lauren Curtin spotted sister Cara near the Hawk’s net assisting Cara with her third score taking the lead 3-2 and completing Cara Curtin’s hat trick.
With five minutes left in the second overtime period SRJC goalkeeper Tara Funk lost her footing and the Hawk’s midfielder Valerie Barrios fired a laser from 30 yards out tying the match 3-3.
After Barrios scored, it seemed this epic fight would never end, but as they have done numerous times before the Curtin twins were able to find one another and win the game. With the clock ticking down towards a penalty shootout, Lauren managed to send a perfect pass to set Cara up from about 30 yards out. Cara charged full steam towards the Hawks goal and fired the ball straight past the goalie, putting the nail in the coffin. With the game-winning goal, Cara Curtin helped her teammates clinch the state championship and earned the game MVP.
Sophomore leadership and outstanding play from the Curtin twins and goalkeeper Funk were key in beating some of the tougher teams in the state throughout the playoffs.  In the final 10 games Cara Curtin scored 17 goals while Lauren Curtin and Shelby Nieto added four additional goals. Freshman Kareli Rodriguez along with Christina and Courtney Rebatta provided added firepower as well.
On many occasions Cara Curtin’s thirst for winning elevated herself and her teammates to capture the state championship. Cara Curtin leaves her amazing career at SRJC as the fifth all-time goal scorer with 65 goals. She also finishes her illustrious career with 19 assists.
A new era has begun at SRJC and Oberkirch established that with a fifth consecutive Big 8 conference title, only one loss on the record, going undefeated at home and accomplishing a state championship.