After an early first round elimination from the playoffs, the Pierce College women’s soccer team
look to rediscover their winning ways for next season.
Although, the Brahmas season ended with an early playoff exit to an eventual final four
team, Cypress College, the season was a success.
The Brahmas finished with a 13-3-4 record and won 10 or more matches in a single season for
the ninth consecutive time and finished their season with 51 total goals in favor of the Brahmas
and led the South Division with only 18 goals scored against them.
Although, they won 13 games the Brahmas had only one victory in conference play along with
three draws. With the three points from the win and the draws the Brahmas finished in fourth
place in the South Division.
As good as the team may have been, head coach Adolfo Perez believes that the lack of a goal
scoring forward hurt Pierce last season.
“Last year we had one of our better soccer teams that we have had hear in my last 11 years,” said
Perez. “But the results did not happen because we did not have anyone that can score.”
Last year the forwards for the Brahmas had a season total of 11 goals and 19 assists. The
Brahmas midfielders had 34 goals and 29 assists. The defenders had a total of six goals and four
assists.
“If you look at our forwards last year one of them had six goals all year the other one had
four and my right midfielder had 13 [goals] and ended up being my leading scorer” Perez
said ”theoretically, in soccer, you want your outside midfielders to be one of the assist leaders.”
Midfielder Jessica Gonzalez led the team in points with 35 and was placed 15 overall in
conference point leaders. Gonzalez also led the team with 13 goals and was third in the team
with nine assist. Forward Edith Dominguez led the team in assists with 13.
Perez addressed the team’s forward situation during the off season by recruiting Jackie Hilario
from three time city champion El Camino Real Charter High School.
“A striker is definitely what we needed. We had people that scored goals and that played the
striker position, but they just weren’t natural strikers and Jackie’s got what it takes to put in [a]
goal when it’s needed,” Assistant Coach Gil Aguirre said “ That’s the edge we’re missing.”
Last season for El Camino, Hilario scored 10 goals and had 10 assists. During last season Hilario
had three multi goal games.
The coaches believe Hilario is the answer to their forward dilemma. They feel she is a natural
forward who the natural eye for goal.
Hilario is one of ten new players that Perez brought in to reinforce Pierce in forwards,
midfielders. Perez may have found reinforcements for his team, but he still has to deal with an
injured goal keeper. Perez tried to recruit a player during the off season, but admitted that he fell
short of that target.
“Our goalie from last year got a concussion and is out, so we recruited a very good player,”
Perez said. “But unfortunately she went somewhere else.”
Perez admitted that his side will be thin in the goal keeper department, but stated that his team
should do fine.
When asked which game he is looking to next season forward to Perez answered:
“I think our first game, we’re going to play against Cuyamaca [College] in San Diego; they’re
one of the top teams in the state and right off the bat we’re going to see where we’re at.”
