YUBA CITY, CA (YSBC) - The River Valley Falcons boys soccer team season ended on Feb. 19 as they fell in the semifinals of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division III bracket 1-0 to the Pioneer Patriots of Woodland.

River Valley and Pioneer met earlier in the season and the match resulted in a tie.

The Falcons went on to win the Foothill Valley League championship and the Patriots won the Monticello Empire League.

Each team controlled the ball well at times and had multiple runs in the first half, but came up empty.

The Pioneer Patriots celebrate their 1-0 victory over River Valley on Feb. 19. Photo by Steven Bryla

In the 34th minute of the game River Valley had a great opportunity as the Falcons received a penalty kick.

As the shot was taken, it bounced off the Pioneer keeper and quickly recovered.

The Patriots had the opportunity to take the lead in the 75th minute on a penalty kick, but the ball hit off of the bottom left post and the game stayed scoreless.

Both teams rushed into the final minute after trading offensive possessions with as many logical shots as they could.

After there were a couple minutes of stoppage time added, the Patriots were given a free kick with the clock ticking.

River Valley senior Cristian Ayala Fernandez (7) goes for a header on Feb. 19 during the Falcons’ defeat to Pioneer. Photo by Chris Pedigo

Pioneer junior forward Gabriel Sandoval booted a high-sailing kick high into the air and it coasted just over the finger tips of the River Valley keeper at the top of the net.

As the ball squeaked to the back of the net, the Patriots immediately rushed Sandoval as he led the charge to the corner flag in celebration.

As the final whistles blew, that ended the remarkable run by the Falcons’.

River Valley won its first league title since the fall 2015 season as this was also the furthest the program has gone in the postseason since they won the D-III title in the of 2012.