Cougars Headed To State Championship Game After Shutout Of Fresno City

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The College of the Canyons men's soccer team scored three goals in a 26-minute span to knock off the topseeded, northern California team, Fresno City, 3-0 in the semifinals of the 2010 California Community College Athletic Association Men's Soccer State Championship at College of the Canyons.

The Cougars, who were the lowest seed out of the four teams in the state soccer tournament, will now face the No. 1 seed in the south, Mount San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5, for a chance at the state's top honor.

Following 47 minutes of scoreless soccer, the Cougars strung together three consecutive second-half goals. COC opened the scoring in the 47th minute when sophomore Andres Bueno broke up the Fresno City defenders to kick a 15-yard volley off his right foot to the lower left corner of the net.

Ten minutes later, in the 57th minute, Bueno found a streaking Rafael Fuentes who scored on a sliding goal.

Canyons added one more goal for good measure in the 73rd minute. Jorge Serrano set up Sebastian Toro for a bullet into the back of the net.

Alex Burkevics played the whole game in goal and had five saves for his second shutout of the playoffs. Fresno City's Patrick Tadd notched four saves in the game.

The Rams finish the season with a 15-5-3 record, while the Cougars improve to 17-5-2 and continue their 11-game win streak.

This is the first time that Canyons will make an appearance in the state championship game. Mt. SAC comes into the game as the defending state champions.