That special time of year has rolled around once more for the Butte College Men’s Soccer team as a playoff berth beckons for the fourth time in five years, with Ross Sandberg’s side targeting a return to the promised land of the State Championship round following last year’s heartbreak at the final hurdle.
The Roadrunners have struggled to drum up a decent spell of consistency so far this season, but have still managed to notch a record of 11-8-2 and recent games have provided glimpses of what may be to come.
A crucial point was secured at the death against Lake Tahoe, as Marius Enemark turned in a well worked set piece at the back post to hold the visiting Coyotes to a 1-1 draw. Momentum was carried over later in the week as Sandberg’s side were able to grind out a 1-0 win in tough conditions away to a spirited Siskiyous side. They will hope to build on these positive results with a win at home to Foothill in their final clash of the regular season, as confidence and form can make all the difference coming into the do-or-die nature of playoff soccer.
Meanwhile, the women’s side will begin the playoffs in a hot vein of form, winning 8 of their last 10, the most notable result a dramatic 4-3 victory over #10 ranked Lake Tahoe thanks to a late penalty from Kennedy Greenfield.
The Roadrunners missed out on denying Lake Tahoe an 8th straight conference title by a hair, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Siskiyous on the final day of conference action, meaning the two held identical records of 8-1-1 and had to be separated by aggregate goals in their two meetings, which Tahoe led by 7 goals to 4 by reason of their 3-1 win over the Roadrunners earlier in the season.
Optimism will remain high coming into the postseason, as Claire Abele’s side will be eyeing up a deep playoff run, hoping to banish the demons of last year’s first round exit.
