AWC soccer comes up short in Region I Finals

Like so many other Region I teams before them, the No. 10 Arizona Western College soccer team's run through the 2009 season came to an end in Prescott at the hands of the No. 6 Yavapai Roughriders.

Yavapai scored two goals in the first half and beat AWC 2-0 in the Region I Finals on Saturday, advancing to the NJCAA National Tournament later this month.

"We had a lot of chances and we were all over them (in the second half), but it was irrelevant," AWC coach Kenny Dale said. "We had a real opportunity tonight and let it slip away."

The Matadors had a chance to tie the game in the first half and change the tone of the night on a penalty kick, but Onofre Velasco's shot hit the crossbar.

"Charlie (Vaquero) got in the box and they took him down from behind," Dale said. "Nobody else would step up and take it, and I give Onofre credit for stepping up, but we missed a penalty shot and that sealed our fate."

Yavapai scored its second goal shortly thereafter.

AWC ends the year a program-best 16-5-2, one of many records the Matadors set this season.

"I will say the fans were outstanding," Dale said. "I thought we had 40 or 50 friends and family cheering us and making a lot of noise, and we appreciated their support."