Sophomore Madison Mader set the tone early for Rio Hondo College with a goal in the fourth minute while Stephanie Arreola totaled two assists in the Roadrunners' 3-1 win over visiting Fullerton College on Saturday in an opening-round game of the 2017 Southern California Regional Playoffs.
The victory improved the third-seeded Roadrunners to 15-3-2 overall while No. 14 Fullerton had its season come to an end with a 11-7-3 mark. Rio Hondo advances to Round 2 of the playoffs and will host No. 6 Santiago Canyon College on Tuesday (Nov. 21), time is to be announced.
Rio Hondo jumped on the Hornets early. Arreola set up Mader's goal and just four minutes later, Vivi Ramirez broke free for an unassisted goal to put the Roadrunners ahead 2-0 in the eighth minute.
Fullerton got on the scoreboard just moments after the second-half opening whistle thanks to a goal by Brianna Remedios at the 45:31 mark, cutting Rio Hondo's lead to 2-1. But Sam Garcia added an insurance goal in the 62nd minute for Rio Hondo to all but slam the door on the Hornets.
Izella Delgadillo posted a save in goal for the Roadrunners in the victory. Fullerton goalkeeper Savannah Dyer was much busier in the net and made eight saves.
The second-round playoff matchup will be a much tougher one for the Roadrunners as they face No. 6 Santiago Canyon. The Hawks were a 3-0 winner over No. 11 Saddleback College in their opening-round game on Saturday. Santiago Canyon enters the game with an 18-2-1 overall record and were champions of the Orange Empire Conference with a 14-1-1 mark.
Tuesday's playoff contest will be the first meeting of the season between the two squads. The winner advances to face either No. 7 San Bernardino Valley College or No. 15 LA Pierce College. Two more victories are needed to advance to the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Soccer Championship on Dec. 1 & 3 at American River College in Sacramento.