GOLD DRAWS STOMPERS TO END SEASON

Sacramento Gold FC claimed one last point in its pursuit of the NPSL playoffs Saturday, with a 0-0 draw against the East Bay Stompers at Capital Christian High School.

Goalkeeper John Connolly and the Gold defense recorded Sacramento’s conference-leading fourth shutout on the year, and the third at home.

With perhaps both teams showing fatigue at the end of the regular season schedule, neither side mounted a particularly lethal threat on goal, though both keepers did have to work to keep the scoreboard empty.

Now, Sacramento must play the waiting game. With 17 points, the Gold sits in second place in the Golden Gate Conference. The rival Sonoma County Sol are in third with 13 points. Should the Sol lose either of its two remaining games this season (or draw both of them), the Gold will make the playoffs. However, should Sacramento and Sonoma finish even on points, the Sol would advance due to a tiebreaker. Either the Gold or the Sol will be the seventh seed in the West Region playoffs. The Stompers, at 12 points, cannot catch either team.