Aztecs win regional title, earning a spot in the national tournament
The Pima women’s soccer team delivered a thrilling performance on Tuesday afternoon, defeating Phoenix College 2–1 at the Pima West Campus field to claim the 2025 NJCAA Region I, Division II championship.
The opening half was marked by tight defensive play and physical intensity from both teams. Pima maintained control of the ball for much of the first 45 minutes, creating several scoring chances, but Phoenix’s goalkeeper kept the Aztecs off the board. Despite their attacking pressure, the match remained 0–0 at halftime.
Early in the second half, Phoenix College capitalized on a counterattack when Irais Tapia broke through the Pima defense and scored, giving the Bears a 1–0 lead. The goal energized the Phoenix side, but Pima quickly regrouped.
Midfielder Yajaira Cervantes (Tucson grad) led the comeback for the Aztecs, netting the equalizer with a strong finish from inside the box. Moments later, Pima was awarded a penalty kick, and Cervantes stepped up once again, calmly slotting the ball past the keeper to give Pima a 2–1 lead.
As the final minutes ticked away, Pima’s defense tightened, fending off multiple Phoenix attacks to secure the win and the championship title. The final whistle set off a wave of cheers from players, coaches, and fans, marking a memorable moment in Pima’s soccer history.
Sophomore midfielder Anjeli DesRosier (Salpointe Catholic) was named the Region I, Division II championship game’s Most Valuable Player.
“We started off really good in the first 10 minutes and after that it started to become a really intense game,” DesRosier said. “I think Phoenix had the upper leg most of the first half including going into the second half, however, we just reminded ourselves at halftime that we don’t want to be second to Phoenix again. Last year we were in the same spot at Phoenix, we ended up losing and got lucky with the bid (to Nationals). It felt really great to finally get the upper leg on Phoenix.”
With the victory, the Aztecs advance in the NJCAA national tournament from Nov. 16-22 at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kan.
The Selection Show will be Tucson at 3:30 p.m., Tucson time, on the NJCAA Network.
The Aztecs finished undefeated at the West Campus Aztec Field with a record of 8-0-3.
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