Women’s Soccer: Rio Hondo named No. 7 seed for SoCal Playoffs

The Rio Hondo College women's soccer team officially begins its postseason run for a state title as the Roadrunners have been named the No. 7 seed for the upcoming California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern California Regional Playoffs.

The Roadrunners will host No. 10 Citrus College in a first-round game in Whittier as part of a playoff doubleheader at the Rio Hondo College Soccer Complex on Saturday, Nov. 17. The women's game is set to begin at 4 p.m. and will be followed by the Rio Hondo men vs. College of the Desert playoff contest at 7 p.m.

Rio Hondo enters the postseason with an 11-3-5 overall record and went 4-2-2 in South Coast Conference North Division play to finish in second place. The Roadrunners are making their fifth straight playoff appearance under head coach Jennifer Tanaka-Hoshijo.

Rio Hondo was ranked as high as No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches Junior College Division III national poll this season and currently checks in at No. 15 in the final regular-season rankings. The Roadrunners have played well at home this season, posting a 5-1-2 mark.

No. 10 Citrus is 10-6-4 overall and finished in fourth place in the Western State Conference East Division with a 2-4-2 mark. The Owls played well in non-conference action before stumbling in WSC play. Citrus has won just two of its last nine games.

The winner of Saturday's first-round contest will advance to face the winner of No. 15 Bakersfield College/No. 18 Golden West College vs. No. 2 Santiago Canyon College on Tuesday (Nov. 20). Three wins are needed to advance to the CCCAA Soccer State Championship on Nov. 30 & Dec. 2 at Ventura College.

The Roadrunners look to return to the state championships after reaching the title game in 2015.