No. 1 Pima Community College men’s soccer will make its first appearance in the NJCAA Division II national semifinals since 2021 following another overtime victory, this time against No. 8 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Sophomore Jacob Lund-Iversen came through in the clutch again as he scored the golden goal in the 93rd minute (6:30 left in the first overtime) in the 3-2 victory.
Lund-Iverson scored the tying goal with 3 seconds left in regulation Sunday in a 3-2 win overtime over No. 12 Pellissippi (Tenn.) State.
The Aztecs (20-1) are the first team to advance to the national semifinals. They will learn who is their opponent Tuesday night after the other three pools finish play.
“We had the ball inside the 16 and I thought, ‘I know the ball is going to bounce and it’s going to slip.’ If I got the chance, I just got to be ready, concentrate it and slide it in,” Lund-Iversen said in a Pima press release.
“On this pitch, and with the rain today, it was hard. The ball was sliding and slipping, long balls from behind go way further than you think. Getting that goal in overtime, is just amazing.”
The Aztecs (20-1) took a 2-0 advantage when sophomore Jose Luis Martin Montealegre was fouled inside the box and sophomore Brandon Sanchez (Canyon del Oro) converted on the ensuing penalty kick to put the Aztecs on the scoreboard in the 32nd minute.
Pima took a two-goal advantage when sophomore D’Andre Pickett (Tucson High) scored on a header that got past a defender and into the net. Sophomore Dohyun Koh set up the goal with his corner-kick assist.
The Bulldogs’ Victor Moerck scored in the 67th minute to cut into Pima’s lead.
Mississippi Gulf Coast (12-4-5) tied the game at 2 with Jasintho Wielders’ goal three minutes later in the 70th minute.
“I guess we love going to overtime and making it tough for ourselves,” Pickett said. “It’s the national tournament and everybody is putting their bodies on the line and giving 100 percent. That’s what you’re going to get.
“You only got four games if you want to be the national champion. You have to give everything. Two hard fought wins and we’re just thankful that we’re going to get ready for the next game.”
The Aztecs finished with 23 shots for the game. Sophomore Jose Carlos Ortiz (Barca Academy of Nogales) closed out the match with four saves.
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