Pierce wins thriller over Mt. SAC

Emily Kelley / Roundup

For the first time in the nine years of the program, the soccer team faced Mt. San Antonio College— and won.

Regulation time ended with a, 1-1, tie, before going into two, 15-minute overtime periods. The Brahamas kept the Mounties from scoring any goals, but didn’t score any either, leading to a penalty kick shootout.

“We deserved to win this game,” said Head Coach Adolfo Perez. “We were the better team.”

Perez said that instead of the usual end to practice the week before the game, he had the players practice penalty kicks.

“It was very refreshing, because we knew it could come down to that (a shootout) and, if it did, we’d be prepared,” said freshman midfielder Ani Eishoei.

Eishoei followed shots by freshman forward Jennifer Alvarez, sophomore midfielder Rachel Kove and forward Michelle Oakes to shoot the winning penalty kick.

“There can’t be any more pressure then that,” said Eishoei, after the game.

Perez said that he felt that there was more pressure playing at home, as opposed to on the road.

“It’s an advantage, but you’re expected to win,” said Perez. “I’m proud of winning here.”

Along with practicing penalty kicks, the team also scouted their opponents in the week before the game.

“There was nothing we didn’t know about them,” according to Perez.

“We knew they were going to be physical,” said Eishoei. “We had a game plan and we did it.”

Part of the game plan was to put the ball in the net and Alvarez did just that, taking the game to, 1-0, at half time.

However, Mountie freshman forward/midfielder Brianna Joseph scored in the first few minutes of the second half to tie the game.

Throughout both half’s, there was a lot of tough, competitive play from the two teams, resulting in numerous fouls and a few collisions.

“It’s a playoff game, so I’m sure they came out way harder,” said Eishoei. “Most teams play more defense with us, but they wanted to attack and go forward.”

In the waning minutes of the second half, Pierce sophomore midfielder Stephanie Cubia went after a ball which she thought was on the goal line, meaning a goal. As she went to kick the ball, she kicked Mt. SAC goalie Dianna Zambrano in the stomach as she attempted to grab the ball.

After making sure Zambrano was ok, it was ruled a no goal, eliciting cheers from the Mt. SAC fans, and boos from the Pierce fans.

“It’s very frustrating when you’re playing your heart out and all you need is that one goal,” said Cubias. “Then there it is and they take it away from you.”

Cubias, who was last season’s leading scorer with 14 goals, feels more comfortable in her supporting role this season.

“I think I feel better helping someone get a goal, cause that’s my job,” said Cubias. “It made it difficult to play (last season), because my team always looked for me.”

 Even as the jubilation of the win was setting in, both Perez and his players were looking ahead to their next game against San Bernardino Valley College.

“It’s going to be different, because most of our fans won’t be there, like they were here,” said Alvarez.

“You know they’re going to be a good team,” said Perez of the Wolverines, who beat Bakersfield College, 3-1, on Saturday. “(But) anything is possible.”

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