HOME OF THE AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE BEAVERS

The Hawks scored two goals in the first half and one in the second to end the Beavers’ post-season run. While winning the Big 7 Conference and advancing to its third consecutive state Final Four, the Beavers placed six all players on the all conference team: Rachel Mathews, Tiffany Prunty, Nicole Dayak, Mikiala Freitas, Angie Leporini, and Felicia Novoa. In addition to the six all conference players, Hillaree Guay was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Conference Player of the Year.

The seventh-seeded Beavers knocked off the No. 3 Giants to advance to the State semi-finals against Santiago Canyon this Friday at Fresno Pacific University at 7:00 pm.  ARC trailed 1-0 at the half, but two second half goals propelled the team to its third consecutive Final Four appearance.  Sequoias’s Diana Santillan scored on a shot from 35 yards out just before the intermission to give the Giants the advantage after the first 45 minutes.  In the second half the Beavers immediately went on the offensive.  Laura Ramirez and Felicia Novoa scored minutes apart to give ARC the lead it would never relinquish.  The first goal came when Angie Leporini slotted a ball from 35 yards out to a wide open Ramirez who, from 12 yards out, played a one-touch ball around the Sequoias goalkeeper. Five minutes later Novoa got the game winner off an assist from Femke Akkersdijk.  Akkersdijk chased down a ball deep in the corner and outworked two Giants defenders to win back the ball before sending a cross into an unmarked Novoa on the back post to score from five yards out.  Keeper Lindsay Cox played the entire 90 minutes, registering 6 saves.  The winner of the ARC-Santiago Canyon match will play the winner of De Anza and Cypress at the same location at 2:00 pm on Sunday, December 10.

November 21, 2006 (round 2 - Playoffs)

The Beavers drew a tough second round game, but prevailed on the road over the Rams.  ARC, the 7^th seed in the North Region, knocked off the No. 2 Rams by virtue of an own goal 13 minutes into the first overtime.  The Beavers took a 1-0 lead 10 minutes into the game when Mikiala Freitas scored off a corner kick.  The ball was played in by Rachel Mathews, and Freitas out jumped her defender and headed the ball into the far post.  The winning goal came on another corner kick, this one cleared by Abby Walker at the top of the penalty box.  Walker collected the ball, turned, and shot, only to have the ball ricochet off the defender into the far post.  ARC advances to the third round of the playoffs, the Elite Eight, which will be in Visalia against No. 3 seed College of the Sequoias at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2.  The winner advances to the State Final Four to be played at Fresno Pacific University, December 8-10.

November 18, 2006 (RD 1 - PLAYOFFS)

The Beavers opened up the post-season with a convincing win over the visiting Falcons.  Mikiala Freitas scored on a free kick 25 minutes into the first half off a cross from Jen Munro, and in the second half, ARC broke the game open with two more goals.  The second goal started as a corner that was cleared to the top of the penalty box, where Kayla Welbanks collected the ball and shot; the shot bounced off several defenders before Abby Walker beat the goalkeeper to the loose ball and tapped it into the near corner from six yards out.  Felicia Novoa finished off the scoring in the 80^th minute on a breakaway.  Rachel Mathews played the ball between two defenders to get Novoa open.  Under a little pressure from another defender, Novoa beat the keeper to the far post.  Lindsay Cox played the entire game making five saves.

November 10, 2006

The Beavers ended the regular season with an impressive win over the Cougars.  Liz Williams got the Beavers on the board in the 7th minute off a cross from Femke Akkersdijk. The Beavers went up 2-0 when Rachel Mathews centered a ball off a free kick, only to have a Taft player head it into her own goal. ARC broke the game open with three second half goals.  Liz Williams tallied her second goal of the day when she converted a penalty kick.  Femke Akkersdijk and Laura Ramirez each added a goal off assists by Rachel Mathews and Felicia Novoa, respectively.  Lindsay Cox would play the entire game in goal making five saves and earning her eighth shutout.

November 9, 2006

In perhaps their most complete game of the season, Abby Walker scored three goals to give the Beavers the win over the Panthers. After a jittery first 15 minutes, Walker opened the scoring in the 25th minute off an assist from Rachel Mathews. Mathews ran down a ball played through the SCC defense and crossed the ball to a wide open Walker, who calmly slotted the ball into the near post from six yards out. In the second half, ARC took over the game when Walker finished her hat trick with two more goals in the second half, both off crosses from Felicia Novoa.  On both goals, Novoa beat her defender then played a ball across the goal to the back post where Walker had a five-yard tap in.  Keeper Leah Thomas registered her third shutout of the season. Excellent defensive play from Hillaree Guay, Mikiala Freitas, Whitney Lundberg, and Tiffany Prunty limited the number of opportunities for SCC.

November 7, 2006

The Beavers secured the Big 7 championship with the win over the Mustangs.  Nicole Dayak’s goal in the 7th minute—a blast into the upper right corner from 20 yards out—was all ARC needed to earn the big road victory.  After Dayak’s goal, her first of the season, the Beavers carved out several more chances to extend their lead, but the final touch or shot always seemed to be just off the mark.  

After having a week off, the Beavers responded by giving up two first half goals to the Vikings to trail at the intermission 2-0.  ARC responded with four second-half goals to win a tough conference game on the road.  Rachel Mathews picked up the first goal on a penalty kick in the 52nd minute after she was fouled on a cross, setting up the penalty. Mikiala Freitas equalized the score 10 minutes later when she headed the ball in off a corner kick served in from Angie Leporini.  Shortly after tying the game, Jessica Reed put ARC ahead to stay with another goal off a corner. The ball was played into the goal mouth by Jen Munro where it was redirected to Reed, who headed it into the near post side netting. With 15 minutes to go Mathews got the Beavers their fourth goal. The play started with Tiffany Prunty quickly playing a ball to Mathews, who dribbled 15 yards, beat a defender on the left side of the penalty box, and then shot it over the goalkeeper’s head from 18 yards out.  Although they gave up two sloppy goals in the first half, the second half saw the defensive play of the entire team pick up and limit the number of chances for DVC.

Femke Akkersdijk scored on a header off an assist from Jen Munro in the 65th minute to give the Beavers the Big 7 win over the Wolverines.  The match was evenly played as both teams created good scoring opportunities.  On ARC’s goal, Akkersdijk positioned herself between the goal keeper and a defender, enabling her to flick the ball into the near post.  In the final 25 minutes, the Beavers were able to hold off several Sierra chances at the goal—none more exciting than when keeper Leah Thomas managed to parry a 35-yard shot off the crossbar, save a point-blank shot off the short rebound, and then deny the finish during a goal box flurry in which neither team was able to get a good foot on the ball.  After several seconds of anxiety, the ball was finally cleared by Mikiala Freitas.

Hillaree Guay scored on a penalty kick in the 47^th minute of the game to give the Beavers the win over the visiting Bear Cubs.  The penalty kick was called when Abby Walker was grabbed while fighting for a loose ball in front of Santa Rosa’s goal.  Even though the ARC offense was unable to create many good scoring opportunities against the strong Santa Rosa defense, the Beavers did control large portions of the game.  Nicole Dayak, Angie Leporini, and Whitney Lundberg led the ARC defense.  Keeper Lindsay Cox earned her seventh shutout of the season.

The Beavers overcame a scoreless first half full of sluggish play and an inspired opponent to beat the Hawks in the Big 7 match.  ARC took the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Nicole Vinci fired in her first goal of the season on a 20-yard shot off an assist from Felicia Novoa.  Rachel Mathews followed with a goal on a pass from Vinci, and Jen Munro finished off a pass from Kayla Welbanks.  The final tally of the afternoon came when Welbanks converted a pass from Liz Williams. Goalie Lindsay Cox played the entire 90 minutes, making four saves—none of which were as big as her effort in the first half.  CRC drilled a long shot from the right side that seemed destined for the back post, but Cox jumped, caught the ball, and managed to fall with the ball without letting it cross the goal line.  The defense, earning its seventh shutout of the year, was anchored by Tiffany Prunty, Samantha Campbell, Mikiala Freitas, Jessica Reed, Whitney Lundberg, Mikki Robinson, and Angie Leporini, who was making her first start as a central defender.

Despite controlling large segments of the game, the Beavers waked away with a tie against the Panthers.  Sac City’s Jenna Richardson scored first eight minutes into the match, but ARC responded in the 25th minute when Rachel Mathews scored on a header from six yards out off a cross from Abby Walker.  The goal came as a result of Kayla Welbanks playing the ball in behind the Panther defense to Walker, who centered the ball to Mathews for the score. The second half started off with both teams picking up the defensive pressure.  Sac City got its second goal in the 70th minute when Sandy Hanania tapped in a ball that Richardson had caromed off the right upright. Ten minutes later Liz Williams tied the score off a cross from Felicia Novoa. The final 20 minutes would find the Beavers relentlessly attacking the Sac City goal in search of the game winner.  ARC was unable to find the game-winner in the final 15 minutes of the contest despite having numerous corner kicks (14 total in the match) and eight shots (16 total) against the Panthers.

The Beavers overcame a sluggish first half to roll to the Big 7 win over the Mustangs.  ARC took the lead in the first half when Abby Walker recorded her sixth goal of the season.  Holding a slim margin at the half, the Beavers immediately extended their lead in the second half when Laura Ramirez scored from 15 yards off a Jen Munro cross.  ARC broke the game open with goals from Liz Williams, Rachel Mathews, and Felicia Novoa - assisted, respectively, by Sarah Petlowany, Nicole Vinci, and Williams.  ARC’s defense registered its second consecutive shutout, led by Kayla Welbanks, Angie Leporini, Tiffany Prunty, Samantha Campbell, Mikki Robinson, Angie Leon, and Mikala Freitas. 

The Beavers recorded their first shutout in five games, picking up two goals in each half to beat the Vikings. Laura Ramirez got the first goal, her first of the season, on a shot from 18 yards out off the assist from Felicia Novoa. ARC’s second goal came from Rachel Mathews, who collected a pass from Jen Munro, turned and fired a shot from 20 yards out into the far post net.  In the second half, Jen Munro scored from 15 yards out on another assist from Novoa, and Mathews registered her second score with an assist from Liz Williams.  The defense was led by the strong play of Hillaree Guay, Mikiala Freitas, Tiffany Prunty, and—making her first start—Jessica Reed. Leah Thomas tended goal for the Beavers, saving four shots.

In a tough and tense game on the road, the Beavers took a lead 10 minutes into the match on Abby Walker’s fifth goal of the season. The goal started with Felicia Novoa beating her defender and then crossing a near post ball to Walker, who headed the ball into the far side netting. The Rams equalized on a long range shot from Tiffani Moore in the 20th minute. The game remained deadlocked until FCC’s Lauren Sera knocked in a rebound in the 78th minute. The Beavers piled on the pressure in the late going, but they could not find the equalizer.

After the Wolverines jumped to an early lead, the Beavers responded three minutes later with their own score, and the two goals stood in the well-played game.  Kayla Welbanks registered her first goal of the season off a corner kick that ended up being a penalty box scramble which Sierra could not clear.  ARC keeper Leah Thomas made fives saves on six shots.

The Beavers opened Big 7 play against the always-tough Bear Cubs, and missed opportunities led to the set back.  Santa Rosa picked up its goal in the 33rd minute when Kylie Kegans intercepted a ball just inside the ARC half and dribbled it down the right side before centering the ball to Ali Ramos, who finished it from 15 yards out. ARC piled on the pressure in the second half, winning six corner kicks, but the Beavers could not get a goal to tie the game.

The Beavers broke open a close game at half time with seven second half goals against the Hawks. The victory marked the sixth in a row for the team.  ARC went into half time leading 2-0 off goals from Mikiala Freitas and Felicia Perez. Rachel Mathews had both assists on the goals. In the second half, the Beavers got goals from Sarah Petlowany, Jen Munro, Femke Akkersdijk, Abby Walker, Liz Williams, and two more from Felicia Novoa. Novoa also had two assists to go with her three goals. Nicole Dayak, Jessica Reed, Mikki Robinson, Abby Walker and Liz Williams each contributed with an assist.  Keeper Leah Thomas made two saves while giving up one goal.

The Beavers snuffed the Dons, giving the team its fourth shutout in the past five matches.  Goalie Lindsay Cox played the entire game, making saves on all five shots on goal. Rachel Mathews knocked in two second half goals to give the Beavers all the scoring they would need. Mathews’s first score came off a cross from Tiffany Prunty; the second goal was unassisted.

Rachel Mathews scored twice as the Beavers blanked the Falcons in the non-league match.  Mikiala Freitas and Liz Williams each registered an assist on a Mathews goal, both of which came in the first half.  Led by defender Mikki Robinson, the ARC defense was dominant as keeper Lindsay Cox had to make only one save in goal the entire game.  Midfielders Felicia Novoa, Laura Ramirez, Jessica Reed, and Angie Leon have been playing consistently well for the Beavers.

The Beavers overcame a sloppily played first half to roll past the Golden Eagles.  ARC took the lead in 6th minute on a goal by Abby Walker, who converted a cross from Rachel Mathews. Mathews got the second score on a tap in from a cross from Jen Munro. Femke Akkersdijk finished off the first half scoring on a breakaway from a ball played through from Tiffany Prunty. Twenty one minutes into the second half, Felicia Novoa finished off a pass from Mathews to make it 4-0.  In the final twelve minutes, Sarah Petlowany scored on a long shot off a feed from Kayla Welbanks and Nicole Crook got her first goal of the season on a breakaway off a feed from Mathews.  Keeper Leah Thomas had to make only three saves on the day as the ARC defense shut down Feather River.

Turning in their most complete effort of the season, the Beavers blanked the Vikings behind goals from Rachel Mathews, Angie Leporini, and Felicia Novoa.  ARC jumped out to a 1-0 lead 22 minutes into the first half when Abby Walker played a ball across the goalmouth to Mathews, who punched it in. Leporini scored midway through the second half on an assist from Mathews, who broke through the defense and drew the keeper out and to the near post, where she then played the ball to Leporini for an easy tap in. Novoa finished off the scoring in the 89th minute when two West Valley defenders misplayed a ball, allowing Novoa to take the ball for a breakaway, and then she calmly slotted the Viking keeper.  Defensively, Tiffany Prunty, Hillaree Guay, Mikiala Freitas, and Whitney Lundberg combined to shut down West Valley. Goalkeeper Lindsay Cox came up big in the latter part of the match when she saved two difficult shots to preserve the shutout.

September 5, 2006

ARC 9, Shasta 0                   

1-2-1 Overall

0-0-0 Conference

The Beavers got in the win column by trouncing the Knights in Redding.  ARC raced to a six-goal lead at the half to put the game out of reach.  Lindsay Cox and Leah Thomas split time in the goal; both turned back the two shots on goal taken against them.  Rachel Mathews led the offensive eruption with four goals.  Liz Williams finished with a pair of goals, and Abby Walker, Jessica Reed, and Sarah Petlowany each added a score.  All the goals came off passes, with Felicia Novoa and Walker assisting on two goals each to lead the team.  Kayla Welbanks, Laura Ramirez, Reed, Petlowany, and Mathews each contributed one assist.

September 3, 2006

Sierra 3, ARC 2                     

0-2-1 Overall

0-0-0 Conference

Down 2-0 at the half, the Beavers scored two goals to even the match before the Wolverines scored the game-winner at the 75-minute mark.  ARC created a lot of scoring chances after Sierra went ahead, but the Beavers were unable to tie it up.  Tiffany Prunty tallied both of ARC’s scores.  The first came on a direct free kick from 19 yards out and then on a penalty kick.  Lindsay Cox recorded four saves in the goal, and Leah Thomas had three.

September 2, 2006

Canyon 3, ARC 1                 

0-1-1 Overall

0-0-0 Conference

The Beavers gave up an early goal in the fourth minute to the Cougars and then tied it up right before the half when Abby Walker connected on an unassisted score.  But ARC surrendered two more unanswered goals in the final 45 minutes.  “We played well in sections,” said Coach Paul Arellanes, “but we are getting punished for every little mistake.”

August 30, 2006

ARC 1, Cabrillo 1                  

0-0-1 Overall

0-0-0 Conference

Felicia Novoa scored at the 80-minute mark to salvage a tie with the Seahawks.  Goalie Leah Thomas had a strong performance, saving four of the five shots taken on goal.  It was an unusual opener.  Only minutes into the contest, play was stopped for an hour and a half while Sacramento Sheriffs searched for an armed fugitive in the Arcade Creek woods.  After the Sheriffs determined there was no threat to the athletes and fans, the game was resumed, despite no capture, under the close scrutiny of loyal fans, sheriffs, campus police, and a hovering helicopter.  The man was apprehended without incident in an adjacent parking lot just before the end of the match.