Pablo Scores Game-Winner as Aztecs Women's Soccer Beat No. 11 Paradise Valley
The Pima Community College women's soccer team (13-1-2, 13-1-2 in ACCAC) were in a back-and-forth battle on Tuesday in its final regular season home game at Kino North Stadium.
The Aztecs secured a second straight undefeated regular season at the Kino Sports Complex after they defeated No. 11 ranked Paradise Valley Community College 3-2. Pima went 8-0-2 at the Kino Sports Complex and haven't lost a home game since Sept. 2013 when they played at the West Campus.
With the game tied at 2-2, the Aztecs moved the ball into Paradise Valley's side of the field. Sophomore Devyn Hunley (Sabino HS) found freshman Shania Pablo (Tucson Magnet HS) on a cross-pass and she hit the shot into the net to put Pima up for good in the 85th minute.
Freshman Maria Mata (Desert View HS) scored two goals in the first half to keep Pima in it. The Aztecs were in a battle in the first half and had to play catch up on two occasions. Down 1-0, Mata scored her first goal in the 18th minute with an assist by Hunley. Paradise Valley retook the lead at 2-1 with a goal in the 27th minute but the Aztecs responded. Mata netted her second goal with an assist from freshman Maria Delgadillo (Rio Rico HS) in the 31st minute. Both teams had eight shots on goal after the first half.
The Aztecs outshot Paradise Valley 13-9 for the game and freshman goalkeeper Daniela Sanchez (Sabino HS) finished with seven saves.
"The key to this team is the character especially the returning players. We have strong leadership which has allowed us to have a second undefeated season at home," Pima coach Kendra Veliz said. "We love having Kino as our home field. I think most would agree it's the best facility in the conference.
"We had the desire to finish our last home game with a win. The ladies refused to lose tonight."
The two goals allowed were the most by the Aztecs this season at Kino as they outscored their opponents 32-4 on the Kino fields this season. They also swept Paradise Valley during the regular season as they beat them 3-2 last month in Phoenix.
The Aztecs close out the season with four straight games on the road. They'll play at Cochise College on Saturday in Douglas at 3:00 p.m.
Pima goals: Mata (Hunley) 9th minute; Mata (Delgadillo) 31st minute; Pablo (Hunley) 85th minute.
Shania Pablo/Photo by Ben Carbajal 2015
