The Los Medanos College women’s soccer team carved out a hard fought victory against the San Joaquin Delta College in an epic battle of the Mustangs on Tuesday. Through the blistering heat, the LMC Mustangs held their own against the SJDC Mustangs to maintain their 3-2 lead and bring home the first victory in the history of LMC Women’s soccer against San Joaquin Delta.

The game started off rough for LMC, with an early goal given up to a strong SJDC offense. In spite of the 0-1 score, LMC did not give in and fought desperately in their defensive end to shut down SJDC by any means necessary and started moving the ball down the field.

“We were more gritty,” said LMC’s No. 11 Jaela Rossi, after the game. “We definitely fought for it like we wanted it.” 

This tenacious defense and counter-attack paid off when LMC earned a corner kick halfway through the first half. The kick by No. 10 Tatiana Diaz sent the ball on a perfect arc towards  LMC’s No. 7 Kelsey Imrisek-Kawalkowski, who sent home the ball with a beautiful header straight to the back of the net. 

The score, now 1-1, LMC redoubled their efforts. Excellent ball movement throughout the midfield and intense pressure from No. 9 Melanie Dominguez formed a formidable duo that eventually paid off. 

Dominguez received the ball in the final third and carried the ball quickly towards goal. SJDC’s goalie charged, but slid too early and Dominguez managed to get the ball over, regain control and with two defenders bearing down get off a quick shot on an empty net for LMC’s second goal of the match. LMC finished off the half leading 2-1

The rest of the half passed with several chances on both sides, but ultimately nothing came of the remaining minutes. Both teams were ready for the rest and shade provided by halftime, and SJDC came back off of the bench with a vengeance. 

The offense of SJDC started pushing down the field farther and farther, forcing the LMC defensive line to fight for every drive. The LMC Stangs’ held their own valiantly, but a beautiful goal from just outside the box by SJDC proved that they weren’t out of the fight yet. The score now sat at 2-2.

The intense battle continued up and down the field. Little by little, LMC was showing their skill moving the ball and with every push down the field they got a little closer to the opposing goal. These chances culminated in a drive down the field that ended in a penalty kick for LMC  for a foul inside the box. Imrisek-Kawalkowski was the kicker, and despite the intense nature of the game, she was not nervous.

“It was the same PK walk up I’ve had since I was 5 years old,” she said after the game. “I’ve only ever missed one when I was 8. I have never missed one since.”

She stepped back, wound up and released the ball into the bottom right corner in a textbook PK, securing LMC’s lead at 3-2 with just 10 minutes left in the game. 

The rest of the game was a nailbiter, with every push by SJDC a chance for them to even out the score, and pry LMC’s victory from their grasp. An all out defense by LMC was the only thing standing in the way of a tie. By the skin of their teeth alone, the LMC Women’s soccer Mustangs managed to hold out for the remaining 20 minutes and put their first ever victory against SJDC in the books.

“It was close,” said No. 1 Marina Bond, LMC’s goalkeeper. Bond ended the game with nine saves and was critical to keeping LMC in the lead.

“We started off a little shaky, we were nervous,” said LMC Women’s soccer head coach Zach Sullivan after the game. “Took a goal early on, and then we kind of bounced back, tied it up. Then we went up a goal.” 

“Not being selfish in front of the goal, creating more chances and defensively just working together has been the biggest issue in the past,” he said. “Everyone that has gone in is contributing. Whether they play 90 minutes or two minutes, that’s the biggest thing.” 

The Mustangs are on a two game streak going into an away game at Chabot, but will return on Sept. 23 for a home game vs. Cañada at 2 p.m.

Below are more photos from yesterday’s game. All photos from the game can be found here.