Jags booters fall to Rancho Cotate, 2-1; finish second

Windsor wraps up league schedule; awaits NCS playoff berth
Heartbreaking is the only way to describe the league soccer finale at Rancho Cotate on Friday night, as the Jaguars saw their bid for a North Bay League championship denied in a 2-1 loss to the Cougars.
The setback came on the heels of a pair of 2-0 wins over Cardinal Newman in the final week of the NBL season and relegated Windsor to second place with a record of 11-2-1, just behind league champion Montgomery (12-2).
Rounding out the final league standings are Rancho Cotate (9-5), Santa Rosa (8-5-1), Casa Grande (6-5-3), Maria Carrillo (2-8-2), Ukiah (2-11) and Cardinal Newman (0-12-1).
The Jags will now turn their attention to the upcoming North Coast Section Division 2 Playoff Tournament, which begins on Feb. 15. The NCS seeding committee is schedule to meet on Feb. 12 to fill out the divisional brackets.
Jags’ title bid
Windsor began the week in first place in the NBL standings following their huge win over Montgomery on Feb. 1, but would need to close out the schedule with three wins to insure the championship.
Things started well enough in a Feb. 6 match against visiting Cardinal Newman, as the Jaguars got a pair of goals from Dylan Moberly and Ray Duenas while their defense did the rest in a 2-0 victory. Credit Dylan Manfredi and Leo Bossard with assists, while Bossard and Ivan Alvarez shared duties in goal for Windsor.  
The Jags squared off with Newman again two nights later with a similar result, combining a first-half goal from Dylan Eddy with an insurance tally from Derek Neidlinger after intermission en route to another 2-0 win. Assists went to Rigo Barragan and Miles Monroe. Goalies Bossard and Alvarez were credited with the shutout.
The Jaguars took the field at Rancho Cotate on Friday, Feb. 10 needing a win, but the Cougars had other plans in an intense battle of two outstanding teams. Rancho Cotate drew first blood 15 minutes into the contest for a 1-0 lead, but the Jags clawed back 12 minutes later when Duenas scored off a loose ball in front of the Cougars’ net to knot the match at 1-1 at the half.
Victory was not in the cards for the Jags, as Rancho Cotate would score a second-half goal and hold off Windsor’s attempts for the equalizer in an eventual 2-1 Cougars’ victory.