(Mesa, AZ) The Pima Community College men’s soccer team (2-0, 1-0 in ACCAC) returned to the pitch on Saturday at Mesa Community College to open ACCAC conference play.
The No. 3 ranked Aztecs had their lead cut in the final minutes but responded quickly to beat the Thunderbirds 3-1.
The Aztecs led 1-0 at halftime as freshman Noah Marshman (Pinnacle HS) gave Pima a little breathing room with his penalty kick goal in the 58th minute.
The score remained at 2-0 until Mesa’s Mikolaj Sliperski scored with 4:17 left on the clock to make it 2-1. The Aztecs responded less than a minute later when freshman Jonathan Karumuna (Pinnacle HS) scored off a rebound that was assisted by sophomore Eugene Tusinge (Washington HS).
Freshman Dante Di Leva put Pima on the scoreboard in the 14th minute with a header goal from sophomore Darian Castillo’s (ASU Prep) corner kick.
The Aztecs outshot the Thunderbirds in on-goal attempts 11-3. Sophomore Tommaso Leonardi closed out the game with two saves.
The Aztecs will play their home opener on Tuesday against No. 1 ranked Phoenix College at the West Campus Aztec Field. Game time is set for 5:45 p.m. The Bears eliminated the Aztecs in last year’s NJCAA Division II National Semifinal game and went on to claim the National Championship.
Pima goals: Dante Di Leva (Darian Castillo) 14th minute; Noah Marshman (penalty kick) 58th minute; Johnathan Karumuna (Eugene Tusinge) 87th minute.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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