Aztec Women Shine in Pool Match but Fall Short at NJCAA National Soccer Tournament

The Pima Community College women’s soccer season concluded at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament on Tuesday. Despite a valiant effort, the Aztecs fell short of reaching the national semifinal round.

In their opening match, the No. 6-seeded Aztecs suffered a 3-1 defeat to Heartland Community College. However, they regrouped and achieved a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against Pensacola State on Monday night, finishing the pool play with a 1-1 record.

Coach Kendra Veliz addressed the challenges faced during the tournament. “After losing the first game to the No. 3 seed of the tournament, I knew we didn’t have a good chance to advance, but we showed resilience,” she stated. “I’m proud of my team for not giving up, especially after going down 2-0.”

The Aztecs wrapped up the season with a commendable 13-5 overall record. This season marks the third time in four years they have achieved 13 or more wins. The team’s 11-3 performance in the ACCAC conference is their best since 2017, when they recorded a 15-4-1 finish. Additionally, the Aztecs have reached the Region I, Division II Finals for three consecutive years, securing a spot in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in three of the last four seasons.