The Pasadena City College women's soccer team performed the perfect ending to its most successful regular season in its history by winning the South Coast Conference Tournament championship, 1-0, v. rival Mt. San Antonio in the tourney final at El Camino College on Thursday.
The state #2-ranked Lancers (18-1-1 overall) broke the school record set just last year by winning their 18th game and extended its PCC record win streak to 10 games in the process. PCC also avenged its only loss of the season by defeating the #8 Mounties, who won the SCC North Division title and saw their own 11-game win streak and 13-game undefeated string snapped.
Fittingly, Charlie Gallardo, the SCC's leading scorer this season, netted the game's only goal, her 17th late in the first half. Gallardo ended up turning a lead pass to Delilah Vazquez into a give-and-go play as Vasquez dribbled into the box, then centered a pass to a hustling Gallardo. The sophomore midfielder ripped in the game-winner from the 2-yard line in the 44th minute. It was Vazquez's conference-leading 10th assist.
Earlier, PCC goalie Francesca Agliolo made the play of the game as she dove to the corner to stop a penalty kick by Mt. SAC's Noely Rodriguez 12 minutes in the contest. Agliolo totaled seven saves overall for the Lancers' 14th shutout in 20 games. Agliolo is third in the state in goals against average (0.40) and third in save percentage at .922 (59 saves in 14 games played).
Gallardo moved up to #7 on the PCC All-Time Scoring List with 68 points (27 goals, 14 assists).
It was the first SCC Tourney title for Pasadena as the Lancers now await what appears to be the #2 seed for the upcoming Southern California Regional Playoffs. Directed by head coach Terryn Soelberg, Pasadena will receive a first round bye, then host a second round game on Saturday, Nov. 23 v. an opponent to be announced at Robinson Stadium.
PCC raises the SCC Tourney first-place trophy following its win over Mt. SAC