Aztec Stars Montealegre & Montilla Shine in Regional Soccer Final Showdown

The Pima Community College men’s soccer team has advanced to the Region I, Division II Championship following a decisive victory against Glendale Community College. With this win, the Aztecs improved their season record to 17-1, marking their 10th consecutive triumph.

In a dominant performance at the West Campus Aztec Field, the second-seeded Aztecs outplayed the third-seeded Gauchos, boasting a perfect 10-0 record at home this season. The teams faced off three times, with Pima emerging victorious in each matchup.

The scoring commenced early, with sophomore Jose Luis Martin Montealegre finding the net in the 9th minute,Thanks to a well-placed cross from freshman Eythan Mancilla of Sunnyside High School. Just over a minute later, sophomore D’Andre Pickett launched a shot into the box that was headed home by fellow sophomore Missael Montilla, solidifying their lead within the first ten minutes.

“I acted off of instinct. When I saw the ball go up in the air, I just decided to go for it,” Montilla explained. “Those early goals set the tone for the rest of the game, and Glendale was left chasing.”

Pima’s defense was equally impressive, allowing only four shots on goal from Glendale while the Aztecs recorded six. Sophomore goalkeeper Jose Carlos Ortiz made four crucial saves, contributing to Pima’s tenth shutout of the season.

“Going up two goals early can be challenging because 2-0 is the most dangerous score in soccer. We knew we had to dig deep,” said Pickett. “It started with everybody’s effort.”

The Aztecs will now prepare to face the number one seed, Phoenix College, in the Region I, Division II Finals scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. “It’s another nationally ranked matchup, and everyone will be watching. We’ll go back to the drawing board and aim to replicate last Saturday’s performance,” said Pickett, acknowledging the tough battle that lies ahead.