Women's Soccer Wins SCC Opener, Streak At 12 Games

Alexa Espinoza-Gutierrez drives in the Lancers first goal in their SCC-opening win at LA Harbor (photo by Richard Quinton).
Alexa Espinoza-Gutierrez drives in the Lancers first goal in their SCC-opening win at LA Harbor (photo by Richard Quinton).

The state #11-ranked Pasadena City College women's soccer team opened South Coast Conference play with a 3-2 victory at LA Harbor College on Tuesday. The Lancers extended their season-long, undefeated streak to 12 games at 8-0-4.

PCC jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead starting with Alexa Espinoza-Gutierrez scoring her fourth goal of the season in the 18th minute. She intercepted an errant pass inside Harbor territory and drove to the net for the quick strike.

In the 30th minute, Megan Schmidt notched her team-leading sixth goal on a pass from Bertha Guzman.

The Lancers put the game away when Charlie Gallardo launched a 30-yard free kick for her fourth goal in the 65th minute. It turned out to be the winning score as Harbor (2-6-2) made it close with a goal in the 70th minute, then a penalty kick goal 10 minutes later.

Francesca Agliolo made two saves in the opening half and improved her goaltending record to 4-0-2. Natalia Portillo played the second half, recording three saves. Portillo also has a 4-0-2 mark, but has been slowed by injury that has seen Agliolo step up in recent games. 

"Offensively, we have had to scratch for our goals (three total) in our three previous games," said PCC head coach Terryn Soelberg. "Alexa stepped up today with a great anticipation defensive play that she turned into a goal. Megan has been dealing with tough foot problems, but she has given us great effort and has found the net like in this game. Charlie has such a great leg and has been a threat for us on free kicks and corners. Give Harbor credit for coming back at us, but we had a good enough cushion that the late goals didn't hurt us."

Pasadena returns to Robinson Stadium on Friday, Oct. 6 in a 6 p.m. conference game against hapless Los Angeles City College (0-11, 0-1), a team that has scored just one goal this season and lost its SCC opener v. #6-ranked Long Beach City, 7-0.