Dons to Face Hartnell College in State Championship Semifinals
Following their 2-1 overtime victory over San Bernardino Valley College in the Southern Regional Finals, the Dons advanced to the State Championships and will face Hartnell College, the #4-seed in the north.
The Dons quest for a state-leading eighth State Championship begins this Friday, December 6, when Santa Ana will face Hartnell College in the semifinals of the California Community College Athletic Association Soccer State Championships held at Cosumnes River College. Game time for Friday's match is set for 2:00 p.m. with the winner advancing to the championship game held on Sunday, December 8 at 2:00 p.m., also to be played at Cosumnes River College.
This marks the Dons first trip to the State Championships since 2009, when they lost to Taft College in the semifinals, also played at Cosumnes River College. The Dons last State Championship was won in 2005 when the Dons defeated Santa Rosa College 3-1 in the finals after defeating Cabrillo College 3-0 in the semifinals.
The Dons, who qualified for the playoffs as the #3 team in the south, defeated #2 San Bernardino Valley College 2-1 in overtime of the CCCAA Southern Regional Finals. Their opponent, Hartnell College, qualified as the #4 team in the north and upset top-seeded De Anza College 2-0 in the CCCAA Northern Regional Finals.
Friday's semifinal match will be the first meeting between Santa Ana and Hartnell since the 2004 season. Much like this year, the two teams met that season in the semifinals with the Dons winning 3-0 before going on to defeat Cerritos College in the State Championship match.
In the other semifinal match, Mt. San Antonio College will take on Foothill College. Mt. San Antonio College is the four-time defending state champions as well as the top-seeded team in the south. Foothill College entered the playoffs as the north's #7 team and upset the #2 and #3 teams to qualify for the State Championships.
