(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College men’s soccer season came an end on Tuesday at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.
The No. 5 seeded Aztecs were blanked by No. 4 Iowa Lakes Community College 3-0 in Pool D play at the Kino North Stadium. The Aztecs close out the season at 13-3-1 overall.
The Lakers held field position in the opening minutes and found the back of the net in the 5th minute with a goal from Emilio Cazares. As the one half wore on, the Aztecs started establishing themselves and getting more opportunities on offense. Freshman Nico Valenzuela (Salpointe Catholic HS) took a shot on a free kick that made Iowa Lakes goalkeeper Yuta Hirano dive to make the save.
The Aztecs had an opportunity off a corner kick as freshman Jose Luis Martin Montealegre had a shot inside the box that hit the cross bar and Valenzuela tried heading the ball in but the Aztecs didn’t get the call on a potential hand-ball. Freshman Mateo Soto’s (Tucson Magnet HS) shot then sailed over the goal post.
The Lakers added to their lead after Flynn Faulkner’s goal in the 41st minute. The Aztecs trailed 2-0 at the break.
The Aztecs put pressure on the Lakers’ defense for much of the second half. Sophomore Victor Loredo (Metro Tech) had a free kick just outside the box with 27 minutes left but his attempt hit the cross bar and Iowa Lakers cleared it. Two minutes later, Montealegre headed the ball off a throw-in and sophomore Daniel Ehler headed it at the net with the goalkeeper out of the net but a Lakers’ defender kicked it out.
Loredo tried hitting a free kick opportunity from 25 yards out with 15 minutes left but Hirano made the save. A little over a minute later, after a freshman D’Andre Pickett’s (Tucson Magnet HS) throw-in, freshman Ismael Ruiz (Tucson Magnet HS) tried a header inside the scramble for the ball but Iowa Lakes cleared it out of the box.
Cazares scored his second goal of the game in the 75th minute for the Lakers.
Montealegre provided a final opportunity for the Aztecs to get on the scoreboard when he received a pass inside the box and headed it towards the goal, but Hirano was there again to make the save.
The Aztecs finished the game with 11 shots and three shots on goal. The Lakers had seven shots and five shots on goal. Sophomore James Lynch (Salpointe Catholic HS) finished the match with two saves.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
Click on Logo
