Alexandra Lopez tied for the South Coast Conference lead in goals at 14 with two net scores and added two assists to help the Pasadena CIty College women's soccer team blank East Los Angeles, 4-0, to open the SCC Tournament Friday night at Robinson Stadium.
Lopez is second overall in the conference scoring race with 34 points and the freshman took some of the spotlight while the team celebrated its seven sophomores prior to the contest--Rachel Mentaze, Raylyn Laney, Adamari Polanco, Nadia Aguilar, Presley Gomez, Angie Grigoryan, and Alyssa Avila.
PCC, the tourney's #3 seed, now faces SCC North Division champion and #1 seed/state #15-ranked Mt. San Antonio Monday night at 7 p.m in the tourney semifinals. at Mt. SAC. The #18-rated Lancers are 13-5-2 overall and finished the SCC regular season at 5-1-2, good for second place again in the SCC North. However, Pasadena is trying to defend the SCC Tournament title it won last year.
Against ELAC, Iris Pollard laced a 15-yard shot on a pass from Lopez in the 24th minute. Four minutes into the second half, Lopez connected after a corner kick by Isabella Nersesyan. Lopez made a nifty touch pass to Maxine Scott in the goalie box as she netted a goal in the 63rd minute. Lopez closed out the scoring seven minutes later as she controlled a ball near the top of the box, then teed up a blast from the 12-yard line. Nersesyan collected her ninth assist, now tied for the SCC lead in helpers.
Gaioi Mahe made two saves as the Lancers picked up their sixth shutout of the season. Mahe made a great leaping tip save to preserve the shutout in the 87th minute.
If the Lancers defeat Mt. SAC, they would advance to the tourney finals v. the winner of Monday's Long Beach City v. Cerritos semifinal at Rio Hondo College on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
Sophomore Celebration