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Ukiah Excessive College’s soccer group, enjoying in simply its third-ever North Coast Part title sport, misplaced 32-21 to El Cerrito on Friday evening at American Canyon Excessive College.
This was the Wildcats’ first look in a bit title sport beneath 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 working again to the fitting and scampering about 70 yards to the top zone to place the third-seeded Gauchos forward.
Ukiah was capable of reply with a 19-yard landing run by junior working again Christopher Thompson. Since El Cerrito missed its further 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 sport. Gauchos vast receiver Gary Youngblood had an enormous efficiency with 122 yards, together with two touchdowns (one for 90 yards) on 5 receptions.
“They performed tremendous laborious,” Cronin mentioned of his gamers afterward. “Love to scrub up the little issues technically that may have made us play just a little bit higher, simply small issues, however whenever you get right into a sport like that there’s a whole lot of nerves to it.”
Regardless of the loss, the sport can function a stepping stone for the Ukiah program going ahead, the coach mentioned.
“The extra video games you play in like that, the higher you get in these video games,” Cronin mentioned. “What the seniors did for our underclassmen has paved the way in which to be again there subsequent yr and be in that very same scenario and play just a little bit extra exact with our eyes.”
Cronin mentioned this yr’s senior class performed a key function in constructing this system as a result of a whole lot of them have been introduced as much as the varsity group as sophomores.
“It had been awhile since they’d gained constantly; we needed to convey guys up,” Cronin mentioned. “They got here up they usually’ve been part of two league championships, sections remaining runner-up and bought to the playoffs yearly.”
Wildcats gamers have been visibly emotional after the loss.
“It simply signifies that they actually care,” Cronin mentioned.
This yr’s Ukiah squad, which shared the Redwood Empire Convention Bay division title with Maria Carrillo and St. Vincent, was in a position to determine methods to win shut video games, Cronin mentioned.
Cronin thought again to successful his first part title at Cardinal Newman and in contrast that group to his present group.
“They’re nonetheless in my head as a result of they allowed for later success,” Cronin mentioned of that Newman group. “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 mentioned. “Proper now we’re in that spot of making an attempt 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, mentioned he’s additionally excited for the way forward for Ukiah soccer, regardless that he will probably be graduating.
“It’s solely going to go up from right here,” David mentioned.
As for this season, David mentioned his group stunned him each week.
“We had a uneven preseason however we by no means gave up, and I feel this group has a lot struggle in them and I feel that’s why we have been capable of make it this far,” David mentioned. “I haven’t been extra happy with a bunch of individuals than these guys proper right here.”
Thompson completed Friday’s sport with 128 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns.
Thompson mentioned the Wildcats’ stretch run performs labored effectively because of frequent observe.
“I used to be capable of see holes and make the fitting cuts,” he mentioned.
Thompson, who will probably be returning subsequent yr for his senior season is worked up for the long run.
“We’re going to overlook the seniors for positive subsequent yr, however I hope we will get some new guys, some JV guys to return up and play their hearts out, too,” Thompson mentioned.
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