On Nov. 14, Chabot College’s women soccer team secured their spot in the NorCal Regional Playoffs, a feat that hadn’t been done in the last 16 years. The team faced West Valley College and knew they had to win that game to make it to regionals, a big ask for a team that had only been under the direction of head coach Daniel Chubbock for two years.
Chubbock began coaching at Chabot in 2023, where he had to rebuild the program from the ground up after Chabot didn’t have a team the year prior. “My job initially in 2023 was to get a team,” said Chubbock. “That was the initial goal, just to have a season.”
From rebuilding a team to the moment that would secure Chabot’s name on the playoff list, the Gladiators made it. At 1-1, with 10 minutes left on the clock, Chabot fought for not only a tie breaker, but three goals in the last 10 minutes of the game with a final win of 4-1.
After that regular season win, the Glads were set to face off against Reedley College (14-7) on their home turf on Nov. 19 in the first round of NorCal Regional Playoffs.
From the whistle Chabot dominated the field, quickly getting two shots on goal in the first two minutes. In the 14th minute Chabot had another shot at goal from across the goalie box, but narrowly missed.
Reedley managed to break away from the defensive position at minute 17, getting a clear shot on Chabot that went over the goal. When Reedley would manage a pass to their attackers, an offside call would follow, a mistake that would happen repeatedly throughout the game.
A slip at the 32nd-minute mark put Chabot’s defender, Nyarah Anderson-Brown #2, on a 1v1 play with Reedley attacker running toward the goal. The pressure from Anderson-Brown forced Reedley a weak shot ultimately blocked by Chabot goalie, Jessie Lighthill #1.
The score was 0-0 at halftime and Chubbock shared the mindset of the team. “We knew that Reedley is a very good team and it was going to be a real battle,” said Chubbock. “But we believed we could win it.”
Entering the second half, Reedley picked up their pace and found moments for shots early, getting three shots on the goal in the first 20 minutes, one hitting the top post.
At minute 70, Chabot got a set piece just outside the goalie box. Abigail Lopez #6, took the shot to the top left of the goal narrowly being blocked by Reedley’s goalie.
Still at 0-0, the game went into overtime where both teams created plays for chances at a goal but ultimately couldn’t close the delivery, sending them to penalty kicks. “Two hours of soccer and they still couldn’t figure out a winner,” said Chubbock. “It was that close, that intense.”
After six rounds of penalty kicks, Chabot took the loss 4-3, marking the end of the game and the season.
“It takes a lot of courage to step up and take a penalty kick. That walk from the halfway line to the penalty spot feels like a lifetime,” said Chubbock. “I would never ever criticize someone that steps up to take a penalty, whether they score or miss, they were brave enough to do it. I’m proud of the ones that took them.”
Although the team’s season is over, the school’s name has been put in the eye of the regional map again after over 15 years. Chubbock has no doubt that this milestone is just the beginning of a new trend for the Chabot women’s soccer team.
“Obviously, the game plan next year is to get beyond the first round [of playoffs],” said Chubbock. “It’ll be a big ask, but that is who we want Chabot to be. Not making playoffs every 16 years, but can we be a school who can make playoffs every year?”
