Women's Soccer Snakebit At Finish, Tie 3-3

The Pasadena City College women's soccer team threw pretty much everything at visiting Reedley in the second half of their non-conference game Friday afternoon. After a wild first half in which PCC took a 3-2 lead, the Lancers ripped 19 shots at the Tigers over the final 45 minutes in trying to build on the advantage.

And despite a bevy of scoring chances and some near misses that saw PCC carry the play, it was Reedley that found the net not the Lancers. With just 30 seconds left in regulation time, a rebound knock-in at the goal-line by Adalene Velasco after an initial save by PCC goalie Alyssa Holt allowed Reedley to pull out a 3-3 tie at Robinson Stadium.

The Lancers, ranked #11 in the CCCSIA State Top 20 poll, are 5-1-4 overall while unranked Reedley is 6-2-1. The game was the first meeting ever in the sport between the two colleges. 

Katy Coats added to her state-leading goals total with two scores to give her 22 this season. The 5-foot-7 sophomore and local product of Maranatha High scored on a penalty kick in the 14th minute for a 1-0 Lancers lead. Just a minute later, Reedley's Sabrina Cabrera tied it with a breakaway goal. In the 40th minute, Coats used some strong technical moves to dribble to the top of the box and then did a 180-turn before blasting in a goal from the 10-yard line to regain the PCC lead at 2-1.

Again the Tigers responded within a minute as Cabrera hit a drive from the 50-yard line that reached net to tie it again. This time, it was PCC's turn to score quickly as just seconds later Isabella Gonzalez-Mosqueda stole a ball then drove a shot from the 21-yard line that snuck inside the left post for the team's third lead of the half (3-2).

While the first half was even in scoring chances for both teams, the second half was mostly PCC pressuring Reedley with assorted breakaways, free kicks, corner kicks and shots from the 25-yard line and in. The best chance was in the 59th minute when Coats delivered a pass to Kaily Echeverria, who 1-timed a shot headed for the corner. But Tigers goalie Sarah Cabrera made a diving tip-away to rob Echeverria of a goal. Cabrera was a workhorse as she made 16 saves overall, including 13 in the second half. She also stopped Sophia Noriega on a pair of breakaway attempts from close range. 

PCC's defense had some strong play from Jacqueline Gonzalez, Selena Macias Farias, Ashley Rivera and Jillian Demasi. Offensively, Noriega frequently had strong dashes upfield that led to scoring chances. Coats, Gonzalez-Mosqueda, Erica Perez, Amanda Howard, and Echeverria were a big part of the offensive pushes by the Lancers.

Holt made 7 saves including a big stop on Sabrina Cabrera, who had two goals and an assist to lead Reedley, on a breakaway attempt a minute before halftime. 

Coats continues her quick climb up the PCC all-time scoring list. She passed Melissa Payne (2000-2001) for fourth in goals with 33 in her career and her 76 total points ties her for fourth on the all-time points list with Amy Quesenberry (2001-2002). All-time goals and points leader Kelley Hull set the Lancers record for goals in a season with 34 in the program's inaugural season of 1997. Her 80 points led the state that year and is also a PCC record. Coats currently leads the state with 52 total points and has at least 11 regular season games to add to it and possibly playoffs. Coats also extended her season-long points scoring streak to 10 games. 

PCC will next play on the road at Taft College on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m.