TUCSON, Ariz. – The Yavapai College women's soccer team hit the road on Saturday afternoon and did something it has only done one other time in its three-year program history: defeated a ranked opponent. This time, the Roughriders bested the No. 5-ranked Pima Community College Aztecs 2-1 to improve to 2-0 on the young season. 

Coincidentally, the first ranked opponent the Roughriders defeated was also the Aztecs back in 2021 during the inaugural women's soccer season at YC. During that game, the Roughriders also won by a final of 2-1 at Ken Lindley Field when Pima was ranked No. 7. 

In the all-time series against Pima, YC is now 2-3 with Saturday's victory doubling as the first road win in the series for the Roughriders. 

"I'm proud of our team for overcoming a slow start after our first long road trip," Head Coach Rozie DeWeese said after the win. "Our sideline was hyped and it showed in the energy on the field in the second half. This was a good team win, fueled by some really great individual efforts to get our first win at this field as a program."

All of the scoring action in the contest took place in the second half as the teams headed to the break tied 0-0. Shortly after, the Aztecs scored the first goal of the contest and led 1-0 with 30 minutes to go. 

After the Aztec goal, with 27 minutes to go, freshman forward Ciara Webbe caught a cross pass from fellow freshman forward Paola Carrillo and buried it for her second score of the season while tying the game at 1-1. 

Ten minutes later, and with 17 left to play, freshman midfielder Annalyce Romero feathered a perfect pass in between two defenders to sophomore forward Julie Reyes who promptly placed a perfect shot on goal that wound up hitting the bottom left part of the net to give YC a 2-1 lead. It was Reyes's second goal of the season and Romero's second assist of the season. 

The Roughrider defense held the Aztecs off the scoresheet for the remainder of the game to complete the comeback and clinch the 2-1 victory. 

For Reyes, it's her second game-winning goal in as many games while freshman goalkeeper LJ Hempel takes home her second win of the season in as many games. Hempel wound up tallying three saves on the night. 

Up Next
YC is set to host its Roughrider Showcase next week at Ken Lindley Field. The Roughriders will play three games in the tournament, before the conference season gets underway.