Coyote Men Complete First Perfect CCC Season Since 1994
MERIDIAN, Idaho - Antonio Bautista scored a pair of second half goals - the game-winner coming with just six minutes remaining, as The College of Idaho completed an undefeated Cascade Conference slate, rallying to top Cascade College, 2-1, at the Boise Capitals Soccer Complex.
The win for the Yotes (13-2-1, 12-0 CCC) set a new school record for consecutive wins with 12, while the squad became the first CCC team to complete a no-loss, no-tie league campaign since George Fox went 5-0 in 1994.
Despite allowing 15 more shots than their opponent, the visiting T-Birds (10-7, 6-5) got on the board first - as Devin Chaney flicked home a Juan Manzanarez corner kick at the far post in the 58th minute.
However, the Coyotes would tie the score in the 68th minute off a counter attack following a Cascade free kick. Alex Penrod would play a ball up the left side, where Jesus Lopez touched the ball to Bautista - who flicked the ball past T-Bird keeper Efrain Vargas.
Five minutes later, the Yotes nearly took the lead, as Bautista went 1-on-1 with Vargas, but his chip over the keeper took a big bounce, then clipped the top of the crossbar, and went out of play. However, Bautista took a feed from Garga Caserta late in the contest, and ripped a right-footed shot into the net for his league-leading 20th counter of the season.
It marked the final home regular-season match for seven seniors - Bautista, Penrod, Caserta, Scott Thompson, Brian Weiss, Derek Erstad, and Mauricio Both.
The Yotes will have next weekend off, preparing for a Nov. 5 CCC Tournament semifinal game - to be played in Caldwell at 3 p.m.