State #9-ranked Rio Hondo College handed the Pasadena City College women's soccer program its worst home loss in its 23-year history on Tuesday, 9-1, at Robinson Stadium. The Lancers, who were ranked on the CCCSIA State Top 20 before falling out this week, went from being undefeated going into this month to winless in October at 0-4-1.
PCC (5-4-4 overall) has struggled offensively of late. Katy Coats continues to be the state's goals scoring and points leader with 22 goals and 52 points. However, the talented midfielder/forward has been held without a point in each of the last two games. Against Rio Hondo, the Lancers first and last hurrah was a header goal by Sophia Noriega on a lob in bounce pass into the box by Erica Perez for Perez' team-leading ninth helper. The goal tied the game briefly at 1-1 in the seventh minute.
The Roadrunners (7-1-3) scored the next eight answered goals to be the first road opponent to tally more than seven goals since PCC began playing at Robinson Stadium in 1999 (as well as the Lancers first two seasons when they played off-campus). Both Vivian Viramontes and Serina Vargas scored hat tricks (three goals each) while playmaker Alice Hernandez made four assists.
Going into the game, Pasadena was 3-0-2 at home this season but had no answers defensively to stop several cross plays in the goalie box that turned into 1-timer attempts or short-range goals for RHC. Rio Hondo led 5-1 by halftime.
On Oct. 11, host Mt. San Antonio defeated PCC, 3-0, despite a superb goalie performance by Alyssa Holt, who made a season-high 14 saves. Liani Sanchez scored two goals for the Mounties. In an Oct. 8 game at Taft, the Cougars routed the Lancers, 6-0, behind three goals by Samantha Carvajal. The score was a little misleading as Taft scored four goals over the final 11 minutes.
Things don't get any easier for PCC when it hosts Cerritos College on Friday, Oct. 18 in a 4 p.m. start. The game marks the start of the 8-game, South Coast Conference schedule.
(note-edited with corrected facts on streak).
The #14-ranked Falcons have not lost to the Lancers in seven years when PCC won 4-2 at Robinson Stadium on Nov. 6, 2012. Since that game, the Lancers have been outscored 54-0 over the last 10 consecutive losses against the Falcons.