(Phoenix, AZ) The Pima Community College women’s soccer team (12-4) was in another tough battle with Phoenix College (16-1-1) on Wednesday as the teams vied for the Region I, Division II Championship.
The No. 3 seeded Aztecs took the lead in the second half but fell 2-1 in overtime to the No. 1 seeded Bears. It was the third time this season that the Aztecs lost by the score of 2-1 to the Bears. This was the third straight year the Aztecs had lost to Phoenix College in the Region I, Division II Finals.
The game was scoreless after the first half of play but the Aztecs were the aggressors. Sophomore Jessica Alvarez (Tucson Magnet HS) drove a shot that hit the upper part of the goalpost and was saved by Phoenix College before the ball could cross the plain into the goal.
Alvarez did find the back of the net in the 59th minute when she connected on a header that was assisted by fellow sophomore Lizzie Walker (Canyon del Oro HS), who headed the ball towards her in the box to put Pima up 1-0.
Mapula tied the game for the Bears in the 71st minute and Yadira Escobedo scored the golden goal 1:05seconds (91st minute) into the first overtime.
The Aztecs finished with three shots on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Brooke Valencia (Sabino HS) closed out the match with six saves. She had 13 saves for the Region I, Division II Tournament.
“We came out with a lot of energy in the first half and we had our chances, they just didn’t go our way in the first half,” sophomore defender Uriah Burrell (Catalina Foothills HS) said. “In the second half, we had a beautiful goal. There was a little miscommunication in the back causing them to score on us, which is something we’ve been working on all season.
“Every time we’ve played them, it’s been the same score. We were working really hard to flip it our way and it just didn’t work out. Overall, we did really well; the energy was good on the bench and on the field. Everyone did really good and gave it their all.”
The Aztecs now wait to see if they get an at-large bid for the NJCAA Division II Tournament in Huntsville, AL from Nov. 17-23.
“I think we’ve worked really hard all season. We fought our way back to the top considering how our season’s gone,” Burrell said about making a case for Pima to go to the national tournament. “I’m really proud of our team and we all deserve a chance to go to nationals along with (Phoenix College). Hopefully if we do go, we get to see them again and it will go our way.”
Pima goal: Jessica Alvarez (Lizzie Walker) 59th minute.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
Click on Logo
