Women's Soccer Rally Falls Short v. Cerritos, 3-2

It was the 7-year itch. Except in this case, it was the Pasadena City College women's soccer team desire to end a dubious scoreless streak v. state #17 Cerritos College. Not only did PCC stop a 10-game, head-to-head string of not scoring a goal v. the powerful Falcons, the Lancers roared back from a 3-0 deficit and played inspired soccer in a 3-2 loss Friday at Robinson Stadium.

The game was the start of the 8-game, South Coast Conference schedule for both teams. PCC's losing streak was stretched to four games overall as it stands at 5-5-4 overall. Cerritos (8-3-2) took a commanding 3-0 lead on goals by McKenzie Cooper (third minute), Nia Thompson (29th) and Samantha Martinez (49th). 

However, the Lancers ended the streak v. Cerritos teams that approached 1,000 minutes (972 to be exact) when Katy Coats caught up to a lead pass by Kaily Echeverria and just got enough of a roll off her right foot to net her state-leading 23rd goal in the 60th minute. Cerritos goalie Melanie Corona came out to try to stop Coats but the sophomore's momentum allowed her to get enough English on the ball to reach the back of the goal.

Pasadena outplayed the Falcons for a 23-minute stretch during the second half and kept the pressure on until Corona was given a red card for tripping Amanda Howard just at the top of the box. Coats followed by ripping a free kick that hit the left goal post, but Erica Perez retrieved the long rebound and immediately drove a 25-yard shot into the upper left corner that cut the lead to one with a little more than eight minutes left in the game.

Over the last minutes, Cerritos pressed PCC and prevented the Lancers from getting another shot attempt. Overall, the Falcons outshot PCC, 22-8. Alyssa Holt made nine saves to keep Pasadena in it. Her best save was a diving stop on Gabriela Jimenez short-range shot in the box that preceded the Lancers first goal.

Perez, Sophia Noriega, Echeverria, Montserrat Menendez, Coats, and Jillian DeMasi were a big part of the PCC rally, making plays at the center of the field and in Cerritos territory. Perez, Noriaga, Selena Macias Farias and Isabella Gonzalez-Mosqueda were strong defensively in helping break up potential Cerritos scoring chances. 

Coats is in fourth place on the PCC all-time points scoring list with now 79 career points (34 goals, 11 assists) as she is just four points from tying No. 3 Rebecca Hildago (83 points), who was inducted into the PCC Sports Hall of Fame last year. 

PCC is 0-8-1 in its last nine conference games dating back to the 2017 season. The Lancers hope to end that winless SCC string on Tuesday, Oct. 22 when it hosts El Camino College. Game time is 3 p.m. at Robinson Stadium.