Women’s Soccer Sophomores 2 for 2 Making Playoffs

College of the Siskiyous' women's soccer team will face a familiar foe in the first round of the California Community College NorCal Regional Playoffs Wednesday.

Seeded No. 23, the Eagles will play at No. 10 Butte in Oroville, a team they played to a 1-1 tie in the final game of the regular season last week on Sophomore Day in Weed. The playoff game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. The winner will advance to play at No. 7 Fresno City on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Butte tied Lake Tahoe for first place in this year's Golden Valley Conference standings, both at 8-1-1, while Siskiyous went 5-4-1 and tied for third with Feather River.

Tahoe hadn't lost a GVC match since 2016 before falling to Butte 4-3 on Nov. 7 at Butte. Prior to that, Tahoe had given up only 1 goal in conference all season and had allowed only 6 goals in conference since 2017.

The Eagles (10-7-1 overall) made the playoffs for the second year in a row and the second time since the soccer program began at COS in 2017.

Four GVC teams made it into the NorCal playoff bracket. Tahoe (12-5-4 overall) is seeded No. 8, Butte (12-4-2) is No. 10, and Feather River (8-7-6) is No. 18.

In last week's exciting regular season finale against Butte, the Eagles tied the score at 1-1 on a header by sophomore Katie Effa off Jaclynn Wolf's corner kick 55 minutes into the game.

Butte pressured the Eagles for much of the final 35 minutes, but a defense anchored by sophomore goalkeeper Avery Suhr was up to the task. Suhr was credited with 5 saves in the game.

The Eagles had their own scoring chances throughout as evidenced by the 13 saves credited to Butte goalie Jasmine Pierce.

With a 2025 roster of 12 returning sophomores and four freshmen, the Eagles have been strong on defense throughout the season. They allowed more than 2 goals in only 3 of their 18 matches and more than 3 goals only once, at Tahoe.

The Eagles lost 3 of their first 4 in the preseason, all to playoff teams: No. 20 Foothill, No. 22 Las Positas and No. 14 Chabot.

The Eagles then went on a 6-1 run with a 2-1 loss at Feather River to open conference.

While beating Shasta and Redwoods twice each in conference, the Eagles lost at Butte, 2-0, and lost at home to Tahoe, 3-0.

Before playing Butte to a 1-1 tie on Nov. 11, the 12 sophomores who have led Siskiyous to its first two winning seasons and first two postseason appearances in program history were recognized. They are midfielder Katie Effa, midfielder Cheyenne Thompson, goalie Avery Suhr, midfielder Meadow Cummings, goalie/forward Oceanna Knight, forward Jonell Alderson, defender Marissa Whitt, defender Izabella Ault, midfielder Corynn Lemos, forward Brooklynn Wade, forward Maiyah McDonald, and defender Harrisen Poe.

The sophomores were joined this year by four freshmen, defender Hailey Walton, forward Sam Gish, midfielder Taya Martinelli, and midfielder Jaclynn Wolf.

Alderson leads the Eagles with 9 goals this season, which ranks 6th among GVC players, while Wolf ranks 7th with 8 goals, Wade is 12th with 6, and Walton and Gish are tied for 15th with 5 each. Martinelli has scored 4 goals, McDonald 3, Thompson 2, Lemos 2, Effa 2, and Poe 1.

Martinelli has 4 assists, Wolf, Walton and Alderson 3 each, McDonald and Effa 2 each.

In 14 games at goalkeeper, Suhr has 49 saves and a .710 save percentage.

Athletic coordinator Kevin Bradford II introduced each sophomore along with her hometown, favorite College of the Siskiyous memory and future college/career plans. His script shows:

#5 Katie Effa, Redding, CA. My header against Feather River last year. I want to transfer to a 4 year to continue playing soccer while majoring in kinesiology.

#10 Cheyenne Thompson, Priest River, ID. Our competitive practices & all the laughs during small sided games. Transfer to continue playing and earn a bachelors in communications.

#1 Avery Suhr, Greeley, Colorado. Favorite memory was the first round of playoffs last year and winning in the PK shootout. I have not decided where I am going but I plan to continue my soccer career at a 4 year college as well as get my degree in a health science field.

#13 Meadow Cummings, Yreka, CA. Favorite memory was the trip to our first round of playoffs in the 2024 season. Going to complete business administration AA at COS. But still undecided on where she wants to continue.

#0 Oceanna Knight, Anderson, CA. Meeting Taya and almost being kidnapped and stalked in Arcata while getting food at night freshman year with Alexa & Bella. Hasn't decided which college she wants to attend but plans to continue her studies in the medical field and pursue a career in nursing.

#8 Jonell Alderson, Palo Cedro, CA. Guilty Pleasure songs in the van. Continue to play soccer at a 4 year.

#23 Marissa Whitt, Central Point, OR. Partying on the bus after we won the first round of playoffs last year. Next year she will be attending either RCC or OHSU to get her RN.

#4 Izabella Ault, Cottonwood, CA. Last year when Ed got the van lost in San Francisco. Not sure where she wants to go next but wants to study engineering or architecture.

#9 Corynn Lemos, Redding, CA. Scoring the winning goal against Feather River. Plans to go to a 4 year to continue education in sports medicine.

#22 Brooklynn Wade, Yuma, AZ. Breaking the scoring record and celebrating with the team. Plans to graduate with a bachelors in criminal justice and go into drug enforcement and continue playing soccer at a university.

#6 Maiyah McDonald, Central Point, OR. The annual San Francisco trips. I plan to continue playing soccer and pursue a career in sports nutrition.

#7 Harrison Poe, Medford, OR. Penalty in the playoffs last year. Not sure where she is going but plans on playing no matter what.

By Steve Gerace