A 20-minute delay on the kickoff did not prevent the Brahmas from bouncing back from their loss as they beat the West LA College Wildcats in dominant fashion.
The team came into the game with a 9-4-2 overall record, losing Tuesday’s game against the Santa Monica College Corsairs 2-1.
Head Coach Adolfo Perez said the Brahmas learned from their mistakes which led to their six-game winning streak come to an end.
“We looked at the film of the Santa Monica game. The second goal that came from them on that free kick shouldn’t have happened,” Perez said. “I mean it is over, but now it will be tough to beat them over there.”
Things started well for the team when in the third minute, Gisell Cruz gave the Brahmas the lead.
As the first half progressed, the team were showing signs from the Santa Monica game giving away the ball carelessly or not clearing the ball in a convincing way.
Midfielder Diana Millan scored the team’s second goal with an incredible strike that gave Wildcats’ goalkeeper Natalie Flores no chance at saving.
Millan said she was happy with how the team responded to the defeat at the hands of the Corsairs.
“We came from a tough loss so we needed to win to regain our confidence back,” Millan said.
Millan came into the game with 15 assists being ranked number one in the state. In this game she added three more.
“I have been assisting a lot, so I want to get some goals, so I’m happy I got a goal and three assists,” Millan said.
Towards the end of the first half, there was a penalty kick awarded to the Brahmas which Cruz scored scoring her second goal of the game. She also scored from the spot in the previous game.
With the goal, Cruz now has scored 18 goals this season for the Brahmas.
Cruz said the team came with good vibes which helped them get the win.
“We came with a lot of positive energy. We were pumped during the warmups. All of us had a good chemistry when we were getting ready for the game,” Cruz said.
Cruz said she wasn’t nervous when she stepped up to take the penalty kick.
“I have scored a lot of PK’s so I know where I want to go and I know if I change position it will not go well for me and I just try to stay confident and focused,” Cruz said.
In the second half, the team’s offense showed no remorse over the Wildcats.
Cristina Peruch-Alegria scored her first of two goals which gave the team a 4-0 lead.
Keyonna Hill added her name on the scoresheet scoring in the 70th minute and would go on to score her brace minutes later.
Towards the end of the game, Peruch-Alegria would score her second goal of the game which ended up being the final goal as the team won 7-0.
Perez was pleased that his team did not allow for the Wildcats’ offense to score.
“It is awesome because you are going to win games if you keep a zero,” Perez said. You will come out on top, if you don’t allow a goal.”
Wildcats’ Shelsin Chavez came into this matchup being the team’s leading goal scorer with 16 goals. However the Brahmas’ defense stepped up and didn’t allow Chavez to score in this game.
“We did a good job. We were able to contain her and that was important for us,” Perez said.
Peruch-Alegria said that she didn’t expect to score twice against the Wildcats.
“It was an incredible feeling. To be a freshman and score two goals it was exciting for me,” Peruch-Alegria said.
With the win, the Brahmas improve their overall record to 10-4-2 and remain second in the conference standings.
The team are on the road when they face Glendale Community College on Friday.
In their previous match, the Brahmas won 7-0. Cruz and Hill led the team with three goals, and Peruch-Alegria also scored in that game. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.