The Fresno City College Women’s Soccer team played their first of several games in this season’s Women’s Soccer playoffs on Nov. 22.

Saturday’s game was the opening game in the Northern California Community College Women’s Soccer Playoffs.

Teams who defeated their first round opponents advanced to round two, The Lady Rams took on the Butte College ‘Roadrunners’ in a long, unpredictable, close game.

During the first 20 minutes of the first half, the Rams seemed well on their way to round two, when #3, Denise Hernandez capitalized with a clear shot resulting in the first goal of the game. Number 24, Meghan Wright assisted.

Most of the game was back and forth and up and down on the field; The Rams did all they could to keep the adrenaline pumping through Butte.

The fans of both teams remained energetic and on the edge of their seats.

After a long struggle to keep the opposition from scoring, at about 30 minutes into the game, FCC capitalized once again with a goal by #10 Iris Torres with an assist by Hernandez, who had scored the first goal of the game.

Five minutes into the second half, it was obvious that the Rams could taste victory on the tips on their tongues, and Torres followed up from a missed goal by #7 Britney Quiroz.

All seemed perfect until the assistant coach Drew Mattos was asked to leave the field for shouting at the referee.

Mattos is suspended for the remainder of the playoffs for defending his team according to fans and players of FCC.

Mid-way through the second half, Butte picked up the pace and tied the Rams 3-3. Number 8, Morgan Camy and # 18 Dani Jones of Butte College scored three goals before the end of the second half.

The game was extended into double overtime, from that moment on, the fans, coaches and the players were in serious concentration on the fate of each team while the final minutes of the game were counting down.

FCC and Butte battled it out on the field until the very last second. In the 108 minute, Quiroz scored the game winning goal, allowing the Rams to advance to round 2 on Nov, 25 in Sacramento against American River.

Head coach Oliver Germond said, “We did what we had to do to get to the second round; it was a great learning experience.” Assistant coach Drew Mattos added,

“Playoff time is a whole other animal; we need to continue to play to our fullest till the whistle blows. We are fortunate to win today.”