Posted: Oct 24, 2017

Four Pima women's soccer standouts named All-Conference

Sophomore Taylor Bigelow was one of three Pima women's soccer defenders to be named to the All-ACCAC Conference/Region I teams. The Aztecs had four players make the teams. The Aztecs host the Region I, Division I semifinals on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at Kino North Stadium. Photo by Ben Carbajal.

The Pima Community College women's soccer team produced four players on the All-ACCAC/Region I teams released on Tuesday with the Pima defense being well-represented.

Sophomores Alexis Hernandez (Ironwood Ridge HS), Emily Bliven (Sahuarita HS) Taylor Bigelow (Salpointe Catholic HS) and Bailey Pedersen (Mountain View HS) represented the Aztecs, who finished the regular season at 15-4-1 and earned the No. 2 seed for the NJCAA Region I, Division I tournament.

Hernandez, a forward, was named first team All-ACCAC/Region I. She played and started all 20 games finishing with 22 goals and four assists. She was named ACCAC Player of the Week twice during the season.

Bliven, a defender, was also named first team All-ACCAC/Region I as she anchored a defense that produced 10 shutouts (nine were victories). She played and started in 17 games during the regular season.

Bigelow, a defender, was selected second team All-ACCAC/Region I. She played and started in all 20 games. She helped the defense produce four straight shutout victories to end the regular season.

Pedersen, also a defender, was named All-ACCAC/Region I Honorable Mention. She played in all 20 games making 19 starts. Pedersen scored one goal and had four assists as she was part of the Pima defense that helped hold opponents to just 19 goals.

"I think it's amazing (to have three defenders on the All-Conference teams). I think we have the strongest defense in the conference," Bliven said. "It showed all the hard work we put into it. We have tough players who are resilient and don't stop or give up. We have each back and work so well as a unit. It's hard to get around us."

The Aztecs won seven straight to close out the regular season and will host the NJCAA Region I, Division I semifinals at Kino North Stadium on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. They will play the winner of tonight's quarterfinal match-up between No. 6 Scottsdale Community College and No. 3 Arizona Western College.

See the complete All-ACCAC/Region I teams on the ACCAC website