Folsom Lake aiming for third straight state title

Folsom Lake College's women's soccer team is seeking a third straight CCCAA State Championship. The Falcons (22-0-2) defeated Santa Rosa, 2-0, on Saturday in the Northern California regional tournament, advancing to the state finals along with long-time rival Sierra College (17-2-4). Folsom Lake will play the No. 2 seed from southern California, Golden West (15-4-6), while Sierra will play the top-seed from the south, Santiago Canyon (17-2-5) on Friday. The winning teams will meet Sunday and play for the state championship at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. The Falcons scored goals in both halves on Saturday. The first one was nice for local fans from Folsom, as the goal scorer and the assist went to Folsom High alum. Kiana Arbis, a freshman, had just checked into the game and took a corner kick from sophomore Madi Stroh and headed it into the goal to put the Falcons up in the 16th minute of the first half. "Scoring that goal was one of the best feelings I've ever had playing here, and there's been a lot of good feelings," Arbis said. "The first thing I told myself coming into this game was that 'I want to get on.'" In most games, Arbis is the shortest and smallest player, standing, 5-3, but that didn't stop her from charging for the ball just a foot or two off the goal line and heading it into the net for the goal. "In order to get what you want, you've got to get there," Arbis said. "You can't have anybody else do it for you. I knew that Madi was a good ball deliverer; I knew where it was going to go and I just wanted it more." For Arbis, it was the biggest of the eight goals she scored this season. "Kiana is really good in the air for her size," Folsom Lake coach Donny Ribaudo said. "She makes good, aggressive runs. She's had some great moments for us and scored some big goals, and she's also set up some big goals but this is definitely the biggest goal of the season for her." The second-half goal came in the 83rd minute. Again, Stroh had the assist on the goal when she found Kylie Deome streaking to the net and got her the ball and Deome finished to the far post. "I thought that (midfielders) Deome, Madi and Kam (Lee) were excellent today," Ribaudo said. "We know that Santa Rosa plays pretty direct. It was important for us to read the moments and know when to flex off and being able to win the battle out of the air. Boxing out, winning the second ball and not falling into the trap of doing what they do. "In beginning of game we did a really good job connecting, moving the ball, switching the point of attack and that led to the goal. Then after halftime we started moving the ball very well and that was difficult for them but it helped us create the second goal and get the win. "We're excited to go to our third final four in a row." Arbis has enjoyed her freshman year playing on the team. "This team's culture is absolutely phenomenal," Arbis said. "It's the one thing I'm afraid of is if I transfer and I'm not able to find a team culture like this anywhere else. "All these girls are always supporting each other no matter where they are in the lineup. There are girls here who have played every minute and yet they're still supporting girls who haven't played a minute." The Falcons are two wins away from winning a third straight state championship. "It's going to take a lot more hard work and blood, sweat and tears," Arbis said. "We've been craving a title. We all want to go back-to-back-to-back."