In their home opener on the Pima grounds last night, the Aztec women (3-0-0) continued their undefeated start to the season with a strong performance against Paradise Valley Pumas (0-0-2).
Paradise Valley was a team under siege, as Pima managed to put six shots past the Paradise Valley keeper. It was Pima’s second straight shutout victory following a 4-0 away win at Chandler Gilbert Community College on Aug. 27.
Five different goal scorers got involved in the action as the Pumas had no answer for the constant pressure on their goal.
Pima opened the scoring in the 14th minute, after midfielder Samantha Mendez intercepted a pass near the halfway mark, before finding sophomore forward Lizzie Walker 1 on 1 with the keeper in an advanced position. Walker buried the chance, and Pima would never surrender the lead.
About 15 minutes later, sophomore Camila Razcon got her head onto the end of a Kamalani Peralta corner kick to double Pima’s lead.
The onslaught continued in the 39th minute, as Mendez found fellow freshman midfielder Marissa Garate on the edge of the box for her second assist of the night. While Paradise Valley’s keeper was able to get her body behind the shot, the pace of the strike didn’t allow for a clean save, and the ball found its way over the line for a goal.
Garate would find the back of the net again in the 55th minute, pouncing on a loose ball in the box that the defense failed to adequately clear. Garate filled up the stat sheet in this game, finishing with 2 goals and an assist.
Paradise Valley’s woes were not due to a lack of effort on the defensive end, as their keeper finished with 10 saves, and defenders had multiple goal line clearances. But the Pumas simply had no answer for Pima’s high press. Most of the game was played in Paradise Valley’s half, as they could not string together enough progressive passes to break through a suffocating Pima line.
There was a marked increase in aggression from Paradise Valley in the final 25 minutes or so, but by then it was too little too late, as they were already down 4-0.
The Aztecs would continue to relentlessly pressure Paradise Valley’s goal, with freshman Yatana Acosta and sophomore Jessica Alvarez scoring in the 75th and 81st minute respectively.
Tucson Magnet High School was well represented in Pima’s lineup, as freshmen Marissa Garate, Kamalani Peralta, Yatana Acosta, and Samantha Mendez, as well as sophomore Jessica Alvarez are all alums. Sophomore goal scorers Lizzie Walker and Camila Razcon plied their trades at Canyon del Oro High School and Marana High School, respectively.
The Aztecs’ next game will be on the road at Mesa Community College at 7 p.m on Tuesday.
The men also defeated Paradise Valley 5-0 to improve to 3-0-0. Freshman Robert Castaneda (Nogales)scored the first two goals of the game in the first half. Sophomores Ismael Ruiz (Tucson Magnet) and Jacob–Lund Iverson had the assists.
The Aztec men will play at Mesa Community College on Tuesday at p.m.
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