Early Mistake Spurs Women's Soccer In Round 3 Playoff Triumph

What started out with a self-inflicted wound instead seemed to only motivate the #2 seed Pasadena City College women's soccer team on Tuesday in its Southern California Regional Round 3 contest v. visiting #7 Ventura. An own goal less than a minute into the game put the Lancers behind, but PCC roared back with two goals in the final three minutes of the first half to advance to the regional finals, 3-1.

PCC faces #3 Saddleback in the Regional Round 4 Finals on Saturday, Nov. 30. Game time at Robinson Stadium is 1 p.m. (edited with new info on Nov. 27)  Tickets

Things didn't look good when PCC (school record 19-1-2 record) trailed 1-0 after a bizarre play in which defender Destiny Delgado sent a hard roller back toward the PCC goal only to see a surprised goalie Francesca Agliolo watch helplessly as the ball went into the right corner of the net. 

The own goal snapped a streak of 511 minutes of not allowing an opponent a goal over seven games. 

Rattled by the early miscue, the Lancers got their offense going into high gear late in the first half. In the 43rd minute, Isabela Guerrero's shot inside the box was blocked, but Sydney Esquival, who earlier clanged the cross bar on a 25-yard shot in the fourth minute, ripped a rebound blast just under the bar to tie the game. 

In injury time, Charlie Gallardo sent a perfect corner kick that Ashley Vera headed into the far corner of the net for a 2-1 lead after 45 minutes. 

In the second half, PCC controlled the play and cashed in during the 81st minute as Angely Puga put through a lead pass to Nadia Aguilar, who beat Ventura's second goalie Sibella Donnelly to the ball. Aguilar's slow roller reached the back center of the net for the insurance goal.  

A sophomore defender, Esquival, who has been an instrumental player in the postseason including her go-ahead penalty kick on Saturday, was outstanding overall in this win with her quick strike shooting and strong play on both sides of the field. 

Gallardo as usual made several nifty plays up field while Puga threatened offensively with a team-high three shots. Defensively, Itzel Nunez stood out again with a number of solid defensive headers and kickouts. Agliolo wasn't tested much and finished with two saves. 

PCC head coach Terryn Soelberg said, "We seemed to fight a little adversity in the postseason. First, we had a true gutcheck in having to rally back in winning the shootout v. Pierce and then just an unfortunate own goal to start things here. We had to battle some nerves after that play, but we started to click and created some nice goals in that late first-half flurry. We have another tough team to face in Saddleback, so it's one more hurdle to get us to state."

The Lancers defeated the Bobcats (17-2-3) in the regular season on Sept. 3, 1-0, on a goal by Nunez and a clutch save on a penalty kick by Agliolo. PCC is looking to reach the 3C2A State Championship tournament for the first time in school history.