Heartbreaking loss signals end of great season
The harsh reality of playoff soccer is the sight of one team celebrating at midfield while the other goes home.
That was the realization for Windsor players, coaches and fans moments after a 1-0 shutout loss at Las Lomas on Feb. 15, as the Jaguars’ remarkable season came to a sudden end in the opening round of the North Coast Section Division 2 playoffs.
The loss gave Windsor a final season record of 14-5-2.
The Jags entered the NCS playoffs as the number 11 seed, perhaps a slight for a team that had come within a whisker of winning the North Bay League title a week earlier.
After spotting the seventh-seeded Las Lomas Knights a 1-0 halftime lead, the Jaguars mounted a furious second-half push but could not break through to score the equalizer.
“I would have liked to have won but there are worse things than losing,” Windsor head coach Andres Flores said. “Our guys played hard to the end and didn’t quit. If you’re going to go down, go down swinging.”
The Jaguars were easily the surprise story of the winter soccer season, assembling a team that was loaded with both depth and talent.
“As a coach you recognize when you have talent but never know how guys are going to play,” Flores noted. “Our success had a lot to do with how they approached the season and how hard they worked. Our depth was also a big key; guys would come in off the bench and raise the level of play.”
All-League honors
Windsor was well represented on the All North Bay League squad, which included first-teamers; senior center midfielder Rigo Barragan, senior goalie Leo Bossard and senior defender Carlos Rosas.
Garnering second-team honors were senior defender Miles Monroe, junior forward Raymundo Duenas and sophomore defender Zach Perez.
Although Windsor will graduate 15 players from this year’s team, the future looks bright with a group of 10 returning veterans next season.
“There’s no substitute for playoff experience and our returning guys should benefit from it,” Flores said. I’m really looking forward to next season.”
