Cate suffered a heat-breaking defeat in the second-round game of the CIF Division 6 boys soccer playoffs on Tuesday, losing to Arroyo Valley, 3-2, on a penalty kick in the second overtime period.
“Arroyo is a very good team and it was an exciting game, but this is not the way I wanted to see our season end,” Cate coach Peter Mack said. “Regardless of the outcome, our players were a credit to Cate and represented their school with grit, determination, and class.”
The teams battled to a 2-2 tie through regulation and one overtime. Arroyo Valley scored early, but Cate came back five minutes later and equalized on a header by Leighton Brillo-Sonnino off a corner kick from Geoffrey Acheampong.
The home team, playing before a large and boisterous crowd, went ahead 2-1 in the 52nd minute.
Acheampong tied it for the Rams when he beat several Arroyo Valley players and scored on a low shot to the left side netting from about 16 yards out.
Cate, the Condor League champion, finishes at 10-3-4.
