Tucson, AZ – The Pima Community College men’s soccer team (7-1-2) struck first but struggled to put Arizona Western College (6-1-3) away on Thursday at Kino North Stadium.
The No. 10 ranked Aztecs and the No. 15 ranked Matadors finished in a 1-1 tie after playing 110 minutes of intense soccer.
Sophomore Julian Gaona (Tucson HS) put the Aztecs on the board in the 7th minute when he hit a shot that was assisted by fellow sophomore Chris Cooper (University HS). The Aztecs kept the pressure on but took the 1-0 lead into halftime. They held the Matadors without a shot on goal for the first half.
The Matadors tied the game with a goal in the 58th minute.
In the first 10 minute overtime, freshman Giovanni Ahumada (Tucson HS) had a great opportunity at the goal in the 97th minute that was set-up by AJ Valenzuela (Desert View HS) but the Arizona Western goalkeeper made a diving save.
In the second overtime, sophomore Ricky Flores blocked an Arizona Western free kick in the 107th minute. The Aztecs had their own free kick in the 109th minute but another diving save was made as the final seconds ticked away.
The Aztecs out-shot the Matadors 14-4 for the game as freshman goalkeeper David Silva finished with three saves.
The Aztecs begin the second half of the season on Saturday when they play at Paradise Valley Community College. The Aztecs won the first meeting 2-0 at the Kino North Grandstand.
Pima goal: Gaona (Cooper) 7th minute.
