Posted: Oct 30, 2025
Yajaira Cervantes nets game-winner as Women's Soccer heads back to the Region I Finals
The Pima Community College women's soccer team (12-1-5) is heading back to the Region I, Division II Championship round for the sixth straight season.
- The No. 1 seeded Aztecs defeated No. 4 Glendale Community College 1-0 in the semifinal game held at the West Campus Aztec Field.
- After a scoreless first half, the Aztecs got on the scoreboard when freshman Yajaira Cervantes (Tucson Magnet HS) scored in the 62nd minute with an assist from sophomore Samantha Mendez (Tucson Magnet HS).
- "We had a free kick, and they (Glendale) were caught off guard and trying to figure it out. Sammy (Samantha Mendez) hits it, it hits everybody (in the box) and somehow lands at my feet. I just saw the open side on the right and hit it with my left," Cervantes said, breaking down her goal.
- The Aztecs secured their seventh shutout victory of the season. It was their fourth shutout in the last six games.
- "Our team is pretty height challenged so I think one of our main focuses was winning the ball in the air and getting the second balls," sophomore Meredith Galus said about Pima approach on defense. "I think we started a little rough in the first half, but after getting our energy up in the second half, we started winning those balls, which allowed us to counter.
"We wanted to step with them, which was really important. It's something we've worked on all season. Our back four really needs to step and it really helps with the communication with our goalkeeper when she sees what we don't; so when we're too low, she just tells us to push up." - The Aztecs finished with 14 shots on goal. Sophomore Brooke Valencia (Sabino HS) closed out the game with four saves.
The Aztecs will host the Region I, Division II Championship game on Tuesday at the West Campus Aztec Field. Their opponent will be the winner of the semifinal game between No. 2 seed Phoenix College and No. 3 seed Scottsdale Community College.
Pima goal: Yajaira Cervantes (Samantha Mendez) 62nd minute.
