The Pierce College women’s soccer team won its second game at LA Valley College on Friday, Sept. 4.
The Brahmas attributed its 4-0 win to teamwork and an improvement on its overall control of the ball.
The first half of the game showcased Pierce’s aggressive defense. Pierce freshman forward Makayla Nichols scored the first goal of the game from a penalty kick.
During the second half Nichols then went on to score two more goals completing a hat trick in the ‘62 of the game. The Brahmas were able to increase its lead by obtaining its fourth and final goal from Pierce freshman forward Angela Verduzco.
“Well we’re playing a completely different system than we normally play and our emphasis was on how it was going to come out,” said Head Coach Adolfo Perez. “Just high pressure defense.”
The team created this high pressure defense by switching from a 4-4-2 formation to a 4-3-3 formation to create more offense.
“Well as a team we were focusing and settling down because we had a different formation than we were used to playing,” said Pierce sophomore midfielder Marissa Albano. “We had never played that formation before so we were focusing on connecting and focusing on your position so that later on when we play against a team that’s more defensive we can play them.”
A new formation was not the only obstacle the team had to face. The Brahmas were also forced to overcome a change in terrain as Valley College’s Monarch Stadium uses a turf field rather than a grass field which the team is used to.
“This field is different, especially from our field it’s thick so you have to hit the ball harder. But here the ball rolls,” said Nichols. “So it takes you a little bit to get used to it, but when you can it’s fine.”
“We scored four goals,” said Perez. “It’s a very defensive team. So it’s good.”
Pierce College will go on the road to play Pasadena City College Tuesday Sept. 8 at 3 p.m.
