VanAlstine and Romero Net Goals but Aztecs Men's Soccer Fall Against Hill College

The Pima Community College men's soccer team (20-3-2) surrendered two goals in the opening minutes of the second half and the comeback fell short on Monday.

The No. 4 seeded Aztecs lost to No. 9 seed Hill College (TX) 3-2 in Pool D play at the NJCAA National Tournament in Martinsville, VA.

The Aztecs struck first to take a 1-0 lead when freshman Kyle VanAlstine (Cienega HS) put a header into the goal with a corner kick assist from sophomore Jason Romero in the 25^th minute. Hill College tied the game on a penalty kick goal by Chris Escalera in the 33^rd minute. The score was 1-1 at halftime.

Reggie Gonzalez and Escalera scored goals in the 47^th and 49^th minute to put the Aztecs in a 3-1 hole early in the second half. Hill College had four shots on goal in the first five minutes of the second half.

Romero kept the Aztecs alive with his goal in the 53^rd minute off a free kick to make it 3-2. The Aztecs gave themselves chances as sophomore Sergio Anaya (Salpointe Catholic HS) had a shot at the goal in the 84^th minute and VanAlstine had another header opportunity that just missed the goal in the 86^th. They had three corner kicks in the final four minutes of the game.

The Aztecs had seven shots on goal and freshman goalkeeper Taylor Anderson (Salpointe Catholic HS) finished with five saves.

The Aztecs play Lewis & Clark Community College (IL) on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. (ET) in the final Pool D play match-up. The Aztecs need to win Wednesday's game and also need Lewis & Clark to win tomorrow against Hill College to give the Aztecs a chance of moving passed pool play.

See the standings of all the pool play games on the NJCAA website

Catch Wednesday's game live streamed also on the NJCAA website

Pima goals: VanAlstine (Romero) 25^th minute; Romero 53^rd minute.

Kyle VanAlstine/Photo by Ben Carbajal 2015