HOME OF THE AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE BEAVERS

Bio

1996 was a magical year for the ARC Women’s Soccer Team.  On their way to winning the school’s first soccer championship, and just the third in any sport for the college, the team put together a truly sensational season. After starting the season 3-0, they tied DeAnza College 2-2 on September 26^th.  From there they went on a 12 game winning streak before finally dropping their only game of the season to Cosumnes River College, a 2-1 loss on November 12^th.  Included in that 12 game win streak were 6 straight shutouts and 9 shutouts total.  They outscored their opponents 65-3 during that 12 game stretch.  After the loss to CRC they downed Sac City 5-0 to get ready for the playoffs.  They went on to defeat Las Positas 3-1 and then shut out Fresno City 3-0 to make it to the State Championships.  In the semi-final round the Beavers knocked off Cypress College 3-1 to advance to the championship game.  ARC faced off with Mt. San Antonio College in the State Finals.  After regulation time the score was tied 1-1, with the Beavers scoring in the 19^th minute on a goal by All-American and ARC Hall of Famer Jessica Mackiewicz.  Freshman Shane Peterson scored in the first overtime to give the Beavers a 2-1 lead and the team held Mt. Sac scoreless in the second half of overtime to give the Beavers the title. 

Coach Paul Hansen was named Coach of the Year.  Overall, the team finished with a record of 20-1-1 and outscored their opponents 92-11 on the season.  Defender Kristi Hammer was named the State Tournament MVP.  Coach Hansen’s squad landed five players on the All-Bay Valley Conference Team:  Kristi Hammer, Kate Mathany, Jessica Mackiewicz, Kerri Frankel, and Jessica Siegfried.  Hammer, Mackiewicz and Mathany were named All-Northern California and All Region (NSCAA).  Mackiewicz was named 1^st Team All-America, one of just three Californians on the first team.  Mathany was named 2^nd Team All-America, one of just two from California on the 2^nd team.  Even more impressively, the team had 8 Academic All-Conference players.  The team had three players with at least 10 goals on the season with Jessica Mackiewicsz leading the way with a school record 34.  Jessica Siegfried scored 14 and Kate Mathany added 10.  Thirteen other players scored at least one goal.

Coach Hansen and his assistant, Anna Thrasher, constructed the team almost entirely from local talent, as 19 of the 20 team members went to high school in the Sacramento area. The team consisted of:

Head Coach: Paul Hansen

Assistant Coach: Anna Thrasher