Elijah Reed, Sports Editor • February 21, 2026

 

 

FAIRFIELD, CA., — With bouquets spilling out of their arms, walking with friends, family, and metallic blue balloons alongside them, the sophomores of the Solano College Women’s and Men’s basketball teams took center-court before their double-header matchup against Merritt College. This celebrated their final bout of the season, and ultimately their final collegiate basketball games at Solano College.

Right before the first tip-off of the double-header, Solano Head Coach and former player Elizabeth Roark introduced her three sophomore guards: biology major Hillary Steinman, and criminal justice majors Lucia Alexander and Natalia Sanchez.

After the tough opening final loss to Merritt — the second-seed in the Bay Valley Conference — sophomore guard and team captain Lucia Alexander expressed gratitude and happiness regardless of the outcome last night.

“All [of] my friends get to come together and see everything I accomplished these past two years,”

Alexander, who was January’s Women’s Athlete of the Month at Solano, couldn’t quite pick a single favorite memory or moment from the season, but was grateful to have made “life long best friends” that she’ll “miss spending everyday with.”

Alexander plans on transferring to a four-year university, to further her college basketball career while also pursuing her degree.

The second Criminal Justice major on the Women’s team and their leading scorer Natalia Sanchez, is also planning on attending a four-year. Although she hasn’t come up with a landing spot just yet, she’s striving towards making a decision within the next month.

Sanchez, who was November’s Women’s Athlete of the Month, was very appreciative and thankful for last night’s celebration. Sanchez stated although she was “sad to be leaving [Solano]” there was still excitement about “moving on to the next step in my life & career.”

When asked to single out her favorite moment from the past season, Sanchez gave two answers. The first was her favorite team moment, one they all shared collectively. This happened to be their 77-74 close-win over Los Medanos College. Her favorite individual moment was her 35-point, 13-rebound and three-block explosion against Napa in the Nest, which the team sadly lost.

November’s Men’s Athlete of the Month and business management major Dominick Dennis, immediately pictured a specific moment in his head when asked his favorite moment. Dennis’ favorite memory of the season is his now viral fadeaway buzzer beater against Alameda.

Although he’s still not sure where he’s transferring to yet, he knows he wants to keep the ball rolling smoothly into a four-year.

Not only did all three Athlete of the Month picks have similar plans when it comes to their immediate future, they too shared similar feelings around sophomore night.

“Sophomore night is a night where I get to appreciate all [of] the family and friends who [have] helped me through my basketball career.” Dennis told me in a conversation before the game.

Despite having two players, Dennis (21) and guard Nicko Ignacio (26) over the 20-point mark, the Falcons were still bested by just seven points in the final home game against the Merritt Panthers.

The sentiment of celebrating the accomplishments and feats of the second-year players was shared even by non-players, such as the Solano Athletic Director Alison Aubert.

Professor Aubert says that Sophomore night is a perfect outlet to “say goodbye to our sophomores that will be moving on to the next level to continue their education and possibly play their sport,”

Even with the season coming to an end, the situation the sophomores sit in isn’t too dissimilar from the usual conclusion derived from the majority of games for both clubs. Despite the passion-filled loss, which wasn’t all that detrimental in the long run, each sophomore seemed filled with cherishment. Cherishment for their coaches, their teammates, their family and the game of basketball.

You can watch the broadcast of both Sophomore nights here.