Five goal scorers push Women's Soccer over Sussex County CC in Pool C play

The Pima Community College women's soccer team (14-1-5) saw its first action on Monday in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, KS.

• The No. 6 seeded Aztecs dominated as they beat No. 10 Sussex County Community College (NJ) 5-0 in Pool C play.
• The Aztecs produced five different goal scorers as sophomore Kristal Navarro (Tucson Magnet HS) broke the scoreless tie in the 7^th minute with her shot right in front of the net.
• "With it being our first game of the tournament, it was really important for all of us to share the load, and important for our confidence as a team, and individually, for us to able to get a goal. It feels good," Navarro said.
• Sophomore Samantha Mendez (Tucson Magnet HS) made it to 2-0 in the 27^th minute. Freshman Yajaira Cervantes (Tucson Magnet HS) provided the cross pass to the middle of the box and Mendez scored on a header.
• Cervantes scored her goal with an assist from freshman Ava Dagnino (Salpointe Catholic HS) in the 30^th minute as the Aztecs took a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime.
• Dagnino added insurance in the second half as she scored in front of the net in the 67^th minute. Freshman Gabriel Mendoza (Tucson Magnet HS) helped seal it with her shot inside the box from the right side in the 82^nd minute.
• Sophomore Kamalani Peralta (Tucson Magnet HS) talked about the team's backfield that helped secure their eighth shutout win of the season.
• "We had a really strong back line, and we were able to maintain our line and keep them (Sussex) offsides and find our out-wings," Peralta said. "We were also able to connect forward and get those combinations in."
• Sophomore Phoebe Knisley (Canyon del Oro HS) finished the game with four saves.

The Aztecs will play No. 3 Heartland Community College on Tuesday to close out Pool Play. The winner will advance to the National Semifinal round. Game time is set for 3:15 p.m. (CST); 2:15 p.m. (MST).

Pima goals: Kristal Navarro (Yajaira Cervantes) 7:09; Samantha Mendez (Cervantes) 27:28; Cervantes (Ava Dagnino) 30:14; Dagnino (Ashley Martinez) 67:53; Gabriel Mendoza 82:40.