Cisco's Kids Lead Women's Soccer 2-0 Start

The atmosphere and the attitude has changed already for the 2019 Pasadena City College women's soccer team. The Lancers scored three first-half goals and picked up their second straight victory, 3-2, Tuesday over host Victor Valley College. PCC second-year head coach Francisco Cantero has directed a 2-0 start, or doubled the program's entire win output of last year.

High-scoring midfielder Katy Coats kept up her sharp shooting scoring two goals in a 4-minute span during the first half for a 2-0 PCC lead. In the 32nd minute, Kaily Echeverria made it 3-0 on an assist by Ashley Rivera and held that commanding lead into halftime. The combo were subbed in by Cantero earlier in the half, and that turned out to be the game-winner as Victor Valley rallied for two second-half goals. The Rams Ariana Toranzo netted a shot with eight minutes left but the Lancers defense made the 1-goal lead stand up.

Goalie Alyssa Holt played the first half and made six saves as she has not been scored upon in 90 minutes of play in two matches. Montserrat Menendez assisted on the team's first goal. Coats has increased her season total to seven goals (18 now in her career). 

Cantero was not as free in his substitutions as he was in the team's season-opening rout over Imperial Valley. The starting 11 was made up of Holt, defenders Viridiana Quintanilla, Selena Macias Farias, Laura Casillas and Jacqueline Gonzalez, midfielders Coats, Menendez, Isabella Gonzalez-Mosqueda, Emelyn Meza, and forwards Erica Perez and Sophia Noriega. Second-string goalie Natali Morales (45 minutes, three saves), Jillian Demasi, Echeverria and Rivera were the subs in the win.

On Friday, Sept. 6, the Lancers host Mt. San Jacinto College in a 3 p.m. contest at Robinson Stadium.