Season ends with 2-0 loss to Panthers
RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- The 2012 season has come to an end for the Orange Coast College men's soccer team, following a 2-0 loss to Chaffey College on Tuesday in the second round of the 2012 Southern California Regional Playoffs.
Despite the loss for the 13th-seeded Pirates (12-6-4), it was a season that saw postseason play for the first time since 2006, something that second-year head coach Kevin Smith wanted to see right away when he took over the reins of the program.
"From what I saw this year, we're headed in the right direction with this program," Smith said. "(Associate head coach) Glenn Strachan and the rest of the coaches do a great job with what we're trying to accomplish and with the success we had this year, the program should continue to improve and become one of the top men's soccer programs in the area."
In the loss on Tuesday to the fifth-seeded Panthers (16-4-2), Chaffey jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half and despite a stronger effort in the second half, OCC was not able to find the back of the net.
With the win, Chaffey will advance to the third round and will take on top-seeded Golden West, which survived a second-round scare from L.A. Harbor (2-1 PK OT win) to advance.
It was a 2012 season that the Pirates can look back on with pride. After some inconsistent performances early in the season, Coast played some of its best soccer down the stretch. OCC posted a win and a tie against the 18-time defending Orange Empire Champion Santa Ana Dons and scored three-or-more goals in seven of its 12 wins this year.
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