DVC Around the Horn: East Bay women's soccer powers meet in playoffs

The DVC women’s soccer team, seeded first, walloped visiting No. 16 Solano 6-1 in the first round of the NorCal regional playoffs, setting up a rematch with fellow East Bay power Las Positas on Tuesday afternoon in Pleasant Hill. Kickoff is 2 p.m.

The Vikings beat the Las Positas Hawks 3-2 on Sept. 1.

The Vikings (15-1-6) polished off Solano thanks to two goals apiece from Noelle Lemos and Vanessa Ruvalcaba. Megan Melara had a goal and an assist, and freshman midfielder Chloe Lindemann rounded out the scoring.

Lemos, a former Benicia High scoring machine who redshirted at UC Davis, has a team-high 15 goals. A freshman midfielder out of Pittsburg High, Ruvalcaba has 10 goals and five assists and a knack for the spectacular finish.

It’s been a dream season for both DVC, which earned its first Big 8 crown, and Las Positas, which has scored a program record of 77 goals. The Hawks, guided by coach Paul Sapsford, have achieved back-to-back berths in the playoffs for the first time in at least a decade.

The DVC-Las Positas winner will face either Fresno City or San Joaquin Delta in Round 3, needing another win to advance to the State Championship rounds, Dec. 2-4.

The Vikings are riding an eight-game unbeaten streak (5-0-3) under coach Cailin Mullins. The Vikings have notched 12 shutouts and have good balance across the field. Sophomore goalkeeper Katie McLaughlin (College Park), backed up by Kiara (Lula) Valdivia, has been excellent overall.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Vikings made some history with a 67-59 win over American River in the Shasta Invitational on Saturday, marking the 600^th career win by legendary DVC coach Steve Coccimiglio. He became the state's third men's coach to reach the 600 plateau, and will be inducted into the California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association (CCCMBCA) Hall of Fame in March.

Unfortunately, the Vikings (5-2) fell to Foothill 71-47 in the championship game Sunday in the Redding event. DVC opened the tourney with a 76-59 win over Cabrillo Friday.

The Vikings are off this week before competing in the San Francisco Classic, beginning Dec. 2.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The powerful Vikings (5-1), who have been off since a 66-65 win over Cypress on Nov. 12, will return to action against Yuba in the Contra Costa Tournament on Dec. 1.

CROSS COUNTRY

The Diablo Valley men finished 25^th in the CCCAA State Championship Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno, led by Kevin Orellana, who finished 106^th in a time of 22 minutes, 04.6 seconds over the 4-mile course.

The DVC women were 21^st. Sophomore Ariana Corwin paced the Vikings in 83^rd place in the 5k (20:22.9). Freshman Jessica Mendez was 87^th in 20:28.0.

FOOTBALL

The Vikings (5-6) finished the season with a hard-fought 20-16 loss to Sacramento City in the State Center Bowl Saturday at Hughes Stadium.

The Vikings surged ahead 16-13, on a 3-yard TD run by Marquis Davenport with 1:40 left in the fourth quarter, but Keylan Mack caught 17-yard TD pass from Justin Yeaton with eight seconds remaining to break the Vikings’ hearts. On the play preceding the score, Yeaton completed a 9-yard pass to Mack on fourth-and-9 to the DVC 32 yard line, but the Vikings were hit with a personal foul penalty, setting up the winning score

Davenport scored both Vikings’ TDs on 3-yard runs, and Manny Lopez had a 19-yard field goal. Jake Villa ran three times for 71 yards and Dylan Alves had four receptions for 75 yards. Daron Bowles led the defense with eight total tackles.