With their top center defender and offensive player both out with injuries in the past two weeks, the Pasadena City College women's soccer team has made adjustments. After a rocky 2-game losing streak, the state #12 Lancers are finding their game again with different players stepping up now in consecutive victories. On Tuesday, PCC blanked Citrus, 2-0, at Robinson Stadium.
Both sophomore Rachel Mentaze and freshman Kira Muramatsu have been instrumental on the defensive side of the ball while sophomore Nadia Aguilar and the freshmen duo of Maxine Scott and Esmeralda Jaquez have been more prominent on offense.
Against Citrus (2-4), the Lancers (6-3 record) fired 15 of their 22 shots at the Owls goal in the first half as Mentaze crossed midfield, sending a through pass to Jaquez, who drove in a goal from the 8-yard line for a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute. Jaquez has a goal and two assists in the last two wins.
Mentaze made a big play in the 18th minute as she kicked out a header by Citrus' Layla Serrato at the goalline off a corner kick for a defensive save.
PCC connected for it second goal as Aguilar, who made many drives up field leading to strong scoring opportunities, sent a quick pass to Emily Martinez, who then touched it to a wide open Scott. The 5-foot-4 forward from Pasadena High then rocketed her second goal of the season at the 57-minute mark.
Aguilar, team-high six shots, Scott and Jaquez combined for 14 of Pasadena's shots attempted. PCC had a number of premium chances, missing just wide and high on some close up chances.
Citrus twice hit the post on chances and Lancers goalie Gaioi Mahe had a couple of big close-range saves in the second half that kept the Owls off the scoreboard. Mahe finished with three saves and collected her second shutout.
"The last few weeks have been tougher because we had relied so much on the play of centerback Caley Orona and the scoring of Alexandra Lopez (leads team with five goals) at the start of the season," said PCC head coach Terryn Soelberg. "While we've moved some pieces around as both continue to recover from injuries, so many others are stepping up their play. Rachel was a big part of our great playoff run last year and she's been a stabilizing defender for us while Kira is an aggressive player who is making her presence known v. opponents.
"On offense, Nadia, another letterman, along with Esmeralda and Maxine have been really active in creating chances. Emily is another who has taken advantage of more playing time to make plays. Isabella Nersesyan continues to be consistent as she controls the ball at midfield and is able to make smart passes. Last game, it was returning forward Raylyn Laney netting two goals v. Chaffey, so we're finding that our team is capable of overcoming adversity. We're playing at a high level."
Nersesyan, a freshman from Burbank High, leads the Lancers in assists with five (plus one goal).
PCC next hosts College of the Desert on Tuesday, Sept. 30 in a 4 p.m. kickoff.