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Ukiah Excessive College’s soccer crew, enjoying in simply its third-ever North Coast Part title recreation, misplaced 32-21 to El Cerrito on Friday evening at American Canyon Excessive College.
This was the Wildcats’ first look in a bit 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 reduce 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 in a position to 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 steer 19-7 on the half. Ukiah reduce 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 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 wash up the little issues technically that might have made us play somewhat bit higher, simply small issues, however if you get right into a recreation like that there’s loads 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 12 months and be in that very same state of affairs and play somewhat bit extra exact with our eyes.”
Cronin mentioned this 12 months’s senior class performed a key function in constructing this system as a result of loads of them have been introduced as much as the varsity crew as sophomores.
“It had been awhile since they’d gained persistently; we needed to convey guys up,” Cronin mentioned. “They got here up and so they’ve been part of two league championships, sections last runner-up and obtained to the playoffs yearly.”
Wildcats gamers have been visibly emotional after the loss.
“It simply implies that they actually care,” Cronin mentioned.
This 12 months’s Ukiah squad, which shared the Redwood Empire Convention Bay division title with Maria Carrillo and St. Vincent, was ready to determine how one can win shut video games, Cronin mentioned.
Cronin thought again to profitable his first part title at Cardinal Newman and in contrast that group to his present crew.
“They’re nonetheless in my head as a result of they allowed for later success,” Cronin mentioned of that Newman crew. “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 12 months for Ukiah soccer subsequent 12 months,” 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, although he can be graduating.
“It’s solely going to go up from right here,” David mentioned.
As for this season, David mentioned his crew stunned him each week.
“We had a uneven preseason however we by no means gave up, and I feel this crew has a lot battle in them and I feel that’s why we have been in a position to make it this far,” David mentioned. “I haven’t been extra pleased with a bunch of individuals than these guys proper right here.”
Thompson completed Friday’s recreation with 128 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns.
Thompson mentioned the Wildcats’ stretch run performs labored effectively due to frequent observe.
“I used to be in a position to see holes and make the fitting cuts,” he mentioned.
Thompson, who can be returning subsequent 12 months for his senior season is happy for the long run.
“We’re going to overlook the seniors for positive subsequent 12 months, however I hope we are able to get some new guys, some JV guys to come back up and play their hearts out, too,” Thompson mentioned.
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