If it seemed like the field was tilted one way at Robinson Stadium Tuesday, it was. The Pasadena City College women's soccer team blasted away with 25 shot attempts and held visiting San Diego City to no shots in a 2-0, non-conference shutout. It was the Lancers first win in 2016 as they improved to 1-3-1.
The Lancers controlled the midfield and spent most of the 90 minutes setting up opportunities. In the 34th minute, PCC midfielder Janel Ismail was fouled in the box. That allowed frosh forward Isabel Diaz to cash in with a penalty kick goal. Her second PK score in two games.
Pasadena totaled 10 corner kicks, seven in the second half. In the final 15 minutes, the Lancers put on their most intense pressure. After several near misses, Diaz sent a pass to sophomore forward Alexis Acosta inside the box and Acosta went around goalie Lisa Garcia to knock in an insurance goal in the 87th minute.
PCC received a boost offensively with the addition of Toni Dwyer, a forward from Gabrielino High, who joined the team's active roster today. Dwyer made several plays upfield and had three shot attempts. Acosta and Isabel Diaz tied for most shots with five each while reserve forward Rebecca Ruiz added four attempts. Letterman midfielder Juliana Gurule was a force for much of the game while rookie midfielder Nicole Georgino came off the bench in the second half and created several scoring chances.
SDCC fell to 0-5 on the season as the Knights have been outscored, 27-2, this season.
PCC goalie Amy Castillo picked up the shutout without breaking a sweat as she had no saves with San Diego never threatening to get a shot attempt. Midfielder Emily Matthiesen and defenders Chloe Twitchell, Summer Hofsted, and Christina Diaz (Isabel's sister) locked down the defensive zone and rarely allowed San Diego to cross midfield.
Garcia was SDCC's best player as she made 10 saves.
"We probably should have scored five or six goals, but we kept missing corners and we didn't connect enough on our passes inside their box," said PCC head coach Reggie Rivas. "Goal scoring has been tough for us, but it's not for lack of effort. We ran hard for 90 minutes today and it was a complete effort from the players. We need to keep our positive energy and bring that into our next game."
In a game played September 9, Isabel Diaz scored on a penalty kick in the 66th minute to allow the Lancers to tie host Antelope Valley, 1-1. PCC goalie Natalie Martin made three saves.
On Friday, Sept. 16, the Lancers will travel to face Victor Valley College in a 4 p.m. kickoff.
[Photo--Lancer Janel Ismail puts her foot on the ball during PCC's 2-0 win at Robinson Stadium Tuesday, image by Richard Quinton.]