The Pierce College women’s soccer team (2-0-2) continued their undefeated streak with a 2-0 win against the Citrus College Owls (2-2-0) on Friday Sept. 18, at The Pit.
The Brahmas came into the game ranked fourth in the regional RPI rankings which measures strength of schedule and seventh in the state coaches poll which consists of votes by all the head coaches across the state. Makayla Nichols was the star today scoring both goals for the Brahmas.
Nichols went down early with a knee injury in the fifth minute and trainers helped her off the field to examined the knee. Nichols said “my knee kind of twisted and that did not feel good.”
The game was still tied at zero when the first water break was called in the 25th minute, which is an added break to allow players to rehydrate during either a men’s or women’s soccer games on hot days.
Pierce controlled the ball for much of the first 25 minutes having several shots on goal as well as corner kicks, but were unable to make the most of their opportunities.
Nichols was able to return to the game in the 35th minute when her knee seemed to be fine and said “It hurt but the coaches I’ve had growing up have told me it’s going to hurt whether you play or not, so you might as well play.”
In the 37th minute defender Desiree Raygoza, the captain for the Brahmas, was able to connect with Nichols who scored to put the Brahmas up 1-0.
The half ended with the Brahmas still up by a goal and as the second half began the Brahmas came out striking. The majority of the early second half was played near the Owls goal and the Brahmas had several shots on goal.
In the 64th minute Abigail Chavez found Nichols who again put the ball in the net for her second score, and that put the Brahmas ahead for good.
Near the end of the second half the Owls had an opportunity to end goalie Cindy Godina’s clean sheet when she made a tough save and the rebound went over the goal.
After the game Tim Tracey, the head coach for the Owls, said “we played very poorly,” and that “Pierce [was] very athletic and they have a lot of fight to them.” The Owls (2-3-0) go on to play San Diego Mesa in their next game.
Adolfo Perez, the head coach of the Brahmas said that it was a “very intense game” and they “were a very physical team.”
For Perez, Nichols was the player of the game in their 2-0 victory.
“She scored both goals and that is the hardest thing to do in soccer, is to score goals.”
As far as defensively Perez also had a player that stood out during the game.
“Tessa Koziel had a very solid game”
Earlier this season the Brahmas played Cerritos, a top ranked team in the nation to a tie.
“It makes them believe we can win against our next opponent Fresno City College, the top ranked team in the nation”
The Brahmas go on the road for the next game where they play Fresno City College (4-0-2), the number one ranked team in the, National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Tuesday Sept. 22 at 4pm.