eEdition
Join e-mail newsletters
Join e-mail newsletters
eEdition
Trending:
Ukiah Excessive Faculty’s soccer workforce, taking part in in simply its third-ever North Coast Part title recreation, misplaced 32-21 to El Cerrito on Friday evening at American Canyon Excessive Faculty.
This was the Wildcats’ first look in a piece title recreation underneath head coach Paul Cronin, who took over this system three years in the past.
The sport didn’t begin effectively for Ukiah, seeded fifth within the Division 3 bracket.
El Cerrito’s Mike Boyer scored a shifty landing on the opening kickoff, the place he lower far left earlier than operating again to the fitting and scampering about 70 yards to the tip zone to place the third-seeded Gauchos forward.
Ukiah was in a position to reply with a 19-yard landing run by junior operating again Christopher Thompson. Since El Cerrito missed its additional level and the Wildcats made theirs, Ukiah led 7-6 — however the benefit didn’t final lengthy.
The Gauchos scored 13 straight factors to guide 19-7 on the half. Ukiah lower the lead down to 5 within the third quarter earlier than El Cerrito broke away for good.
El Cerrito rushed for 145 yards and handed for 165 within the recreation. Gauchos broad receiver Gary Youngblood had a giant efficiency with 122 yards, together with two touchdowns (one for 90 yards) on 5 receptions.
“They performed tremendous laborious,” Cronin stated of his gamers afterward. “Love to scrub up the little issues technically that might have made us play just a little bit higher, simply small issues, however whenever you get right into a recreation like that there’s lots of nerves to it.”
Regardless of the loss, the sport can function a stepping stone for the Ukiah program going ahead, the coach stated.
“The extra video games you play in like that, the higher you get in these video games,” Cronin stated. “What the seniors did for our underclassmen has paved the best way to be again there subsequent yr and be in that very same state of affairs and play just a little bit extra exact with our eyes.”
Cronin stated this yr’s senior class performed a key position in constructing this system as a result of lots of them have been introduced as much as the varsity workforce as sophomores.
“It had been awhile since they’d gained persistently; we needed to carry guys up,” Cronin stated. “They got here up and so they’ve been part of two league championships, sections ultimate runner-up and obtained to the playoffs yearly.”
Wildcats gamers have been visibly emotional after the loss.
“It simply signifies that they actually care,” Cronin stated.
This yr’s Ukiah squad, which shared the Redwood Empire Convention Bay division title with Maria Carrillo and St. Vincent, was ready to determine the best way to win shut video games, Cronin stated.
Cronin thought again to profitable his first part title at Cardinal Newman and in contrast that group to his present workforce.
“They’re nonetheless in my head as a result of they allowed for later success,” Cronin stated of that Newman workforce. “It’s cool to see it over once more now 20 years later.”
For Ukiah, it’s now time to show the web page to the 2026 season.
“It’s going to be a very thrilling yr for Ukiah soccer subsequent yr,” Cronin stated. “Proper now we’re in that spot of attempting to get to the highest.”
Cronin expects the Wildcats to have extra depth subsequent season than the final three years.
“I’m tremendous happy with the place this system is at proper now,” he famous.
Ukiah’s senior quarterback Beau David, who completed the sport 14-for-27 for 148 yards and two interceptions, stated he’s additionally excited for the way forward for Ukiah soccer, although he will likely be graduating.
“It’s solely going to go up from right here,” David stated.
As for this season, David stated his workforce shocked him each week.
“We had a uneven preseason however we by no means gave up, and I feel this workforce has a lot combat in them and I feel that’s why we have been in a position to make it this far,” David stated. “I haven’t been extra pleased with a gaggle of individuals than these guys proper right here.”
Thompson completed Friday’s recreation with 128 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns.
Thompson stated the Wildcats’ stretch run performs labored effectively because of frequent follow.
“I used to be in a position to see holes and make the fitting cuts,” he stated.
Thompson, who will likely be returning subsequent yr for his senior season is worked up for the longer term.
“We’re going to overlook the seniors for positive subsequent yr, however I hope we will get some new guys, some JV guys to come back up and play their hearts out, too,” Thompson stated.
Copyright © 2025 MediaNews Group
