PUC Pioneers Women's Soccer Falls Short Against #27 UC Merced in Conference Opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UC Merced (1-0-0, 1-0-0) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
|
Pacific Union (CA) (0-1-0, 0-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The PUC Pioneers Women's Soccer team faced off against the visiting UC Merced Bobcats in their CAL-PAC conference opener, a match that was sure to be a challenge with the Bobcats ranked #27 in the NAIA. Coming into the game, the Lady Pioneers were riding high after dominant wins of 6-0 and 4-1, eager to carry their momentum into conference play and secure valuable points.
However, UC Merced wasted little time making their presence known. The Bobcats opened the scoring in the 9th minute when forward Yareli Hernandez delivered a precise header, placing the ball over the goalkeeper and into the path of Yesenia Tijerina, who calmly slotted it into the open net.
Despite the early setback, the Lady Pioneers showed resilience with a strong defensive effort. But in the 20th minute, Hernandez struck again, this time with a stunning long-range shot from 22 yards out, burying the ball into the top left corner of the net. Just a minute later, the Pioneers were dealt another blow as they failed to clear a dangerous long throw-in, allowing Tijerina to notch her second goal of the match.
Heading into halftime with a 3-0 deficit, the Pioneers had a tough task ahead of them. But the second half saw a much-improved defensive performance, with Freshman center-back #5 Mia Grijalva and Senior right-back#8 Leslie Tamayo leading the backline and preventing any further damage. Despite their best efforts, the Pioneers couldn't find the back of the net to spark a comeback, but their second-half performance demonstrated their fighting spirit.
After the final whistle, the frustration was evident on the faces of the Lady Pioneers, a testament to the high standards they hold themselves to. Facing a nationally ranked opponent was no easy task, but the team wasn't satisfied with the outcome and is already looking ahead to their next match.
The Lady Pioneers will have an opportunity to bounce back when they take on Providence Christian at home on October 3rd.
Story by Kenneth Perez.