Marking the college’s second state championship in seven years, the Oxnard College Men’s soccer team won the California State Championship Title in a game against previous champions Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) on Sunday, Dec. 4, with a final score of 2-1. Due to this massive achievement, the City of Oxnard presented Commendation to the team Wednesday, Dec. 20 for their hard work. The competition was held by the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) and hosted by American River College in Sacramento. The last time Oxnard College was in the state championship in 2015 when its Condors defeated Evergreen Valley College to claim the title.
Despite the rainy delay, mud and wet grass throughout the match, the team fought their way to victory on the field. Twenty-two minutes into the game, Oxnard player Odin Rosten scored a 22-yard goal to put the Condors up 1-0. Mt. SAC later responded by tying the game with a penalty kick in the 45th minute after Oxnard’s Edwin Hernandez was carded for a foul.
With only four minutes left in the game, Rosten slipped past two defenders, cut inside on his right foot past a third defender and scored the winning goal straight into the bottom corner of the net. Scoring both goals, this earned Rosten the game’s “Most Valuable Player of the Final Four” title.
“The City Council would be proud of Oxnard College and everyone that works there because they’ve enacted all these programs that help with food for the players, extra financial aid, counseling… it makes them feel like a family and they get the support they only get at home really, so that really is why we have this much talent on this team on this stage today,” shared Ross Greaney, Oxnard College’s head men’s soccer coach.
In addition to this, Greaney addresses the Oxnard City Council saying that every time he had to make a decision, the soccer team had the determination not to worry about what the decision was but to simply turn that decision into a great one by choosing to follow their coach’s lead.
Mayor Zaragoza expressed gratitude in response by thanking Coach Greaney and the team.
“We’re in good hands because these are responsible citizens and I’m sure that you’re going to help the entire community and we thank you so much for what you’re doing. Thank you again and we’re very very proud of you,” remarked the Mayor.
Continuing in the spirit of appreciation, Dr. Oscar Cobian, acting president of Oxnard College also shared a few words during the meeting: “I’ve worked with a lot of young men and women and not only are these guys tremendous athletes but they’re really really nice guys as well so they’re going to represent Oxnard anywhere they go and we’re definitely pleased and excited that you have us here and celebrating these terrific young men.”
The championship game marked the season’s end for CCCAA, which oversees the intercollegiate athletic activities of nearly 24,000 student-athletes across all California community colleges.
Planning is underway to celebrate Oxnard College’s victory.