SRJC women top Big 8 rival Folsom Lake in soccer showdown

Santa Rosa Junior College women's soccer topped Folsom Lake on the road Tuesday, avenging two years of crucial defeats at the hands of the Falcons.

The 2-0 win moves the Bear Cubs to 5-1-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big 8 conference.

'This is a game that really showed we can solve problems on the field,' coach Crystal Howard said.

The Falcons are the defending Big 8 Champions and have knocked the Bear Cubs out of the NorCals in the third round two years running.

The first goal came in the 76th minute from the head of freshman Kitana Gonzalez, who prepped at Maria Carrillo. Gonzalez knocked in a free kick from the foot of sophomore Celeste Barajas, who graduated from Santa Rosa High.

The Bear Cubs struck again 10 minutes later when Gonzalez and sophomore Eden Brooker pressured the Falcons' newly inserted goalkeeper. Gonzalez won the ball and slotted a pass to Brooker, who put it away to seal the game, Howard said. It was the eighth goal in six games for Brooker, a Montgomery grad.

Freshman goalkeeper Jarely Figueroa, a Roseland University Prep grad, recorded her third shutout in three starts this season.

The Bear Cubs host Sacramento City at 3:30 p.m. Friday.