Despite having just 12 players available due to injuries and sickness, the Pasadena City College women's soccer team didn't miss a beat Tuesday in extending its South Coast Conference undefeated streak to five games (4-0-1) with a 3-1 win over El Camino at Robinson Stadium. The Lancers earned their third consecutive victory in moving to 6-8-1 overall and 4-4-1 in conference.
The Lancers played without regular starters Kelly Youssef, Nathalie Feil, and goalie Monica Rogers as reserve players were able to step up in their absence. Backup goalie Natalie Martin played her best game of the season as she made eight saves, a few on point blank opportunities by El Camino.
Just four minutes into the game, PCC jumped ahead 1-0 on a breakaway goal by Alexis Acosta who took a lead pass from Talar Boshgezenyan In the 28th minute, Leila Farazdaghi got loose inside the goalie box, led by a pass by Ani Hemelians and sent a roller into the corner of the net for a 2-0 lead.
PCC withstood El Camino's offensive charge in the second half. The Warriors, who outshot Pasadena, 19-10, sent 12 shots at the Lancers goal in the final 45 minutes. The Lancers still added to their lead as Sandra Ambrosio scored her team-leading sixth goal on a penalty kick in the 60th minute.
Pasadena's makeshift defense included fine play by Michelle Morales, Rachel Schroeder, Juliana Gurule and Boshgezenyan. The four players frequently slowed down the Warriors' forwards and broke up plays in PCC territory. At defender/sweeper, Morales headed out one El Camino shot late in the game.
"We were up against it with such a small group, but we told the players that you can either just participate and be happy with that or take door No. 2 and play to win," said PCC head coach Reggie Rivas. "The players wanted this badly and played their hearts out. It was really a great effort by all 12 players. We are on a roll right now."
PCC next plays Thursday, October 29 in a 4 p.m. road conference match at East Los Angeles.
[Photo--Lancers players celebrate after a goal by Alexis Acosta (10) during the team's win over El Camino at Robinson Stadium Tuesday, image by Richard Quinton.]