Philip George, Spring 2009 Assistant Sports Editor
Ranked 14th in the state, Rocio Abundez and the rest of the Pierce College soccer team pulled out a late-game miracle to stave off a loss and tie the third ranked Pirates of Ventura College, 1-1, Friday afternoon at the Pit.
With Pierce trailing 1-0 as soon as fifteen minutes into the game, Abundez unleashed a kick from the sideline that barely cleared the outstretched fingertips of Ventura goalkeeper Aslyn Rau, drawing the Brahmas even with five minutes left to play — sending the bench as well as the Brahma faithful in attendance into a frenzy.
“It was awesome to be able to please all these fans that came,” said head coach Adolfo Perez about playing in front of hometown fans for the first time in four weeks, “I didn’t want to lose because of that more than anything else.”
The afternoon began promising for the Brahmas in what Perez described as “definitely [their] hardest game of the year,” as they received a penalty kick within the game’s first minute, but Rachel Kove’s attempt to take the early lead was blocked.
Pierce threatened throughout the entire first half, constantly hovering in the area of the Pirate goal, but Ventura’s defense kept them in check long enough for the Pirate offense to strike first courtesy of midfielder Jazamarae Strozier in the 15th minute. The lead would stand up and Pierce entered the half trailing 1-0.
Brahma goalkeeper Betty Ramirez kept her team in the game throughout the second half, providing a handful of sparkling saves even after sustaining a minor injury midway through the half.
With the Pirates still on top, Ramirez dove to save a runaway ball, and took the knee of Ventura’s Joycln Cooney in the back of her neck. Trainers tended to Ramirez, who shortly thereafter stood up by herself and finished out the game.
“I couldn’t give up,” Ramirez said. “My team needed me.”
“Ten players just can’t do it on their own. They need someone to have their back and I’m that kind of person that everyone can count on, and I feel that my players can all count on me and have the exact same faith in me as I do in them. I guess that’s one reason why I did so good. If they were playing awesome, then why shouldn’t I,” she added.
But even through Ramirez’s heroics, the Brahmas offense was still nowhere to be found, and time was running out. With twilight setting in on the field, it appeared as if the sun was going down on the Brahmas as well until Abundez awakened the crowd with her game tying rocket from the sideline.
The Brahma bench exploded in cheer, as those on the field mobbed their latest hero. Beyond the bench, a sea of parents, students and student athletes embraced in celebration as well as the game came to a close tied 1-1.
“I was so shocked and I was so happy we tied,” said Abundez, “Everybody gave it their all, and even though we were losing, we came up and we tied. We did good and I’m pretty sure we’re going to do good all season.”
Even though the record books will show the game as a draw, Perez believes that mentally, it will go down as a win for the Brahmas.
“[The game] is going to help to remind us every time when things are going tough, ‘Look. If you play as hard as you did against Ventura, good things can happen,” he said.
After the game, Perez issued a request to the Brahma faithful:”Come and support us. It’s exciting whether you like soccer or not.”
Fans will have the opportunity to honor that request Friday at 4 p.m. when the Brahmas continues their quest for a fourth-straight Western State Conference South Division title as they take on Citrus College in their second game of conference play.
Middle fielder Amanda Bernal chased down her opposition during the first half of the game that secured a tie during the final minutes of the game against Ventura College. Pierce’s only goal tied the game, 1-1. ()