Scoring six goals and recording a shutout, the Santa Rosa Junior College women's soccer team Tuesday won the Big Eight Conference with an exclamation point, further validating a No. 2 state ranking.
Still undefeated and favored to close the regular season Friday with a win at Modesto, the Bear Cubs could gain home-field advantage for a run at the California junior college final four.
"If all of our focus is there, I'm sure we'll make it to the final four. I'm pretty confident," said forward Cara Curtin, who booted a goal for an 11th consecutive game Tuesday.
With five different players scoring goals in the win over Sacramento City College, the Bear Cubs displayed the quick-striking offense that has been the team's strength in going 13-0-5.
For the season to end possibly with Santa Rosa's first state title, however, the Bear Cubs must continue tightening their defense. Shutting out opponents in five of the past seven games, Santa Rosa is playing strong on both sides of the ball approaching the postseason.
"They can play. They're fast, they're athletic and skilled with the ball," said Sacramento City College coach Jang-Ha Oh. "They have great depth. They're one of the best teams in the state."
Also a very young team, Santa Rosa has played surprisingly well together. That was coach Emiria Salzmann's goal, to develop teamwork and to work for each other.
"I got that very early. They were very willing and ready to commit to each other as a team," Salzmann said. "They're so young. They're learning so much so quickly, and then we've had a lot of injuries. They've been amazing."
Despite only four players returning from last season's team that lost in the playoffs' second round, Santa Rosa has developed into a smart and cohesive squad.
"We definitely thought it would be more of a building year. But everyone came in really eager to learn," said Katie Deneau, a captain in her second year with the Bear Cubs out of Santa Rosa High. "We have really good team chemistry. We really trust each other."
The combination passing and two-on-two plays Santa Rosa relies on to control the ball for scoring chances were on display Tuesday.
With the sisters Curtin in top form, Santa Rosa scored early and often. After serving a pass to Cara Curtin to open the scoring, Lauren Curtin sped past a defender to take a cross from her sister and punch in the Bear Cubs' second score.
"Their instincts for soccer are incredible. They're just really remarkable," Salzmann said of the sisters from Maria Carrillo.
More unselfish play led to Santa Rosa's third score with Sarah Halcomb putting a pass on Deneau's feet for a blast into the top left of the net. Deneau added another goal on a penalty kick following a hand ball in the goalie box. The pair of scores doubled the midfielder's goal total for the season.
"Emiria wants me scoring more, but I do what I can. For me it's more exciting to have a really cool pass," Deneau said.
After a scoring drought well into the second half, Lauren Romano, from Santa Rosa High, struck a deep free kick past a surprised goalkeeper. Some more sharp passing combinations culminated with Lisa Shaw feeding Jazmine Whitlock, out of Montgomery High, for the final score.
The quartet of Deneau, Shaw, Halcomb and Selam Solomon, also from Montgomery, often set the tempo with deft footwork and passing that draws defenders, opening up lanes and plays in open space. Deneau has a team-leading 13 assists.
"They've done a very good job of including all the players and integrating the players into the system," Salzmann said. "They lead a lot by example."
A primary target has been team-leading scorer Cara Curtin, with 24 goals on the season.
"We're all really supportive and we just find each other," Cara Curtin said. "I can dribble through people and my teammates find passing lanes for me."
Yet just making the team - not scoring goals - was the Curtins' aim in their first year at the junior college.
While they played youth soccer and three years with a Santa Rosa United team, the Curtins didn't play for Maria Carrillo because they were so good running cross country for the Pumas in the fall.
Speed is their talent and the Curtins use it to blast past defenders and get open for scoring chances.
"We're very fast and we're also good in the counter attack," Salzmann said.
With the Bear Cubs averaging more than three goals per match, scoring has not been a problem. Defense has needed more work and the results are apparent in games over the past month.
"The defense has stepped up a lot tying it up in the back. And our goalkeeping has gotten a lot better," Deneau said.
Anchoring the back line are Cami James and Shelby Nieto with Laura Fenton and Giorgia Terry often pushing up on the sides to support deep runs on offense.
More balanced than at the start of the season, Santa Rosa is playing with even more confidence.
"We play until the last minute. We never give up. That's a really good quality about our team," Deneau said.
Come playoff time, Santa Rosa will need five top games to win a state title.
"Probably our number one strength is the team is very close. We just keep working," Salzmann said. "We're having a season that nobody expected - why not us."
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