Hernandez Scores Game-Winner in Double Overtime as Women's Soccer Advances to Region Championship

The Pima Community College women's soccer team (16-5-1) overcame a back-and-forth contest on the road to win in double overtime and advance to the Region I, Division I Championship.

Freshman Alexis Hernandez (Ironwood Ridge HS) scored the game-winning goal in the 102^nd minute after a cross pass in the box from sophomore Maury Urcadez (Tucson Magnet HS) as the No. 3 seeded Aztecs defeated No. 2 Chandler-Gilbert Community College (16-5) 2-1.

The Aztecs struck first in the 28^th minute when sophomore Destiny Jones (Canyon del Oro HS) hit a shot with an assist from Urcadez.

The Coyotes tied the game seven minutes later when Carlie Watson scored with an assist from Danica Milan in the 35^th minute.

Sophomore Daniela Sanchez (Sabino HS) finished the game with nine saves.

"We worked for it and it feels like a dream," Hernandez said. "It was a perfect ball from Maury (on the goal). They (Chandler-Gilbert) were getting tired at the end of the second half and we got more chances. We just kept pounding."

The Aztecs will play at No. 1 seeded Paradise Valley Community College on Saturday in Phoenix at 2:00 p.m. The Aztecs lost two close games to the Pumas during the regular season. They fell 1-0 in Phoenix in the first game of the season and lost their home-winning streak to Paradise Valley 3-2 last month at Kino.

"Paradise Valley is going to come at us hard and it's going to be 100 times more intense," Urcadez said. "If we have the right attitude, nothing can stop us."

Pima goals: Jones (Urcadez) 28^th minute; Hernandez (Urcadez) 102^nd minute.

Alexis Hernandez/Photo by Ben Carbajal