Los Alamitos Upsets Top-Ranked Watsonville in Inaugural State Final

Griffins' Cooper Coleman scores lone goal to deny Wildcatz historic championship

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:54am

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The Watsonville High boys soccer team saw its historic season come to a close with a narrow 1-0 loss to Los Alamitos in the inaugural CIF Division III State Championship. Despite Watsonville's dominant regular season and first-ever NorCal title, Los Alamitos' Cooper Coleman scored the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute to hand the Wildcatz defeat.

Why it matters

This matchup between the NorCal champion Watsonville and SoCal champion Los Alamitos highlighted the growing emphasis on high school soccer in California, with the new state championship providing greater recognition for student-athletes. Los Alamitos' upset victory, despite a 19-15-2 regular season record, demonstrates that rankings don't always determine a team's potential in a single-elimination tournament.

The details

The match was a tense affair, with both teams creating scoring chances. Watsonville's Adrian Fernandez and Los Alamitos' Aidan Hernandez made multiple saves, but it was Coleman's goal off a cross and scramble in the box that proved to be the difference. Watsonville players and coach Roland Hedgpeth acknowledged the play as a turning point.

  • The CIF Division III State Championship was played on Saturday, March 16, 2026.
  • Cooper Coleman scored the game-winning goal for Los Alamitos in the 53rd minute.

The players

Roland Hedgpeth

The 84-year-old head coach of the Watsonville Wildcatz, who has a career record of 731-177-123 over 46 seasons.

Adrian Fernandez

The goalkeeper for the Watsonville Wildcatz, who made multiple saves during the championship match.

Aidan Hernandez

The goalkeeper for the Los Alamitos Griffins, who also made several key saves to preserve the 1-0 victory.

Cooper Coleman

The Los Alamitos player who scored the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute.

Diego Guillen

The 24-goal scorer and senior co-captain of the Watsonville Wildcatz, who expressed frustration over the team's lack of focus in the lead-up to the final.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The CIF will likely continue to build on the success of the inaugural state championship, potentially expanding the tournament or adjusting the format in future years to further elevate high school soccer in California.

The takeaway

This game showcased the growing competitiveness and parity in California high school soccer, with an underdog Los Alamitos team defeating the top-ranked Watsonville squad. The new state championship provides a platform to recognize the achievements of student-athletes and highlights the regional differences in soccer styles that will shape the future of the tournament.