Paradise Valley Dashes BCC’s Title Hopes

Women's Soccer Squad Falls 3-0

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Arizona’s Paradise Valley Community College shocked Brevard Community College with a goal 33 seconds into Saturday night’s NJCAA Division I Women’s Soccer National Championship game and went on to win its second title in three years with a 3-0 victory at Melbourne Central Catholic High School.

Paradise Valley, the 2010 champion, finished the season 23-0-1 scoring 115 goals to only eight for its opponents.

BCC, which had been ranked No. 1 in the nation and was the tournament’s top seed, finished 15-2.

Paradise freshman forward Tianna Stewart beat BCC sophomore goalkeeper Julia Kantor for the opening goal sending the Paraside fans into a frenzy and taking the early fight out of BCC.

Sophomore midfielder Jessie DeLeon scored Paradise’s second goal with 9 minutes and 57 seconds to play in the first half which Paraside dominated. Freshman Ashley Johnson scored Paradise’s third goal on a header with 28:20 remaining in the game for the final margin.

“I think the girls set the tone from the first seconds of the game scoring that first goal and they just didn’t stop the whole game,” Paraside head coach Kacie Bingham said. “They just came to battle.

“It was clutch,” Bingham added about the opening goal. “It set the tone for the game.”

BCC head coach Jeff Carr cited the first goal as well.

“They were ready for us,” Carr said. “After that goal I think we were major flat. We made a couple of mistakes on the second and third. We were flat. We just couldn’t capitalize.

“(Freshman midfielder) Sue (Kumaning) had several, but they weren’t on frame.”

BCC, playing with the wind in the second half, had several chances in fact all but one either high or wide. It wasn’t until the final minutes that sophomore goalkeeper Tessa Hamberlin, who played the second half, was forced to make a save.

To that end as far as Bingham was concerned Saturday’s game was Paradise at its best.

“We’re a solid team,” she said. “When we bring it we can play like this and have before.”

But the winning effort didn’t come without some serious recovery work following Paradise’s emotional penalty kicks victory over Iowa Western Community College in Friday’s second semifinal.

“We had long game (Friday),” she said. “We were definitely worried about legs and stuff like that. We gave them ice bags. We jogged and stretched. We’ve done a good job taking care of their bodies.”

The loss, while heartbreaking for BCC could set the tone for 2013.

“We’ve got unfinished business,” Carr told his players after the awards ceremony.

The season, only the third for the BCC program, also resonated with college President Dr. Jim Richey.

“Reaching the national tournament and playing in the championship game is an incredible accomplishment for BCC and its athletic programs, especially when you consider our women’s soccer team has only been in existence for three years,” Richey said.

“Jeff Carr, the college’s athletic director and women’s soccer coach, has provided exceptional leadership, and members of the women’s soccer team met one challenge after another, displaying dedication and character.

“I’m extremely proud of them and know everyone at BCC and along the Space Coast are as well.”

The shutout loss was the first for BCC this season, its best in its three years as a program and broke a 13-game winning streak.

Similar Stories