The Los Medanos College Mustangs delivered a crushing 6-0 defeat to the Contra Costa College Comets on home turf Nov. 4. Their prowess as a team has developed over the course of the season, and undoubtedly LMC is a dangerous force to be reckoned with on the field.
The Comets came out of the gate strong in hopes of matching LMC’s energy and skill, but CCC could not keep up with the relentless fight that the Mustangs had to offer. The first five minutes could be called a somewhat even game, LMC was putting the pressure on for sure, but the Comets were at least holding their own. It was very clear after those first five minutes that CCC was outmatched.
LMC’s No. 12 Elyse Baldwin on the left and No. 5 Sofia Henderson on the right outmatched their CCC counterparts, and made use of their prowess to push hard and get the ball down the field. Something had to give for the Comets, and just seven minutes into the game LMC drew blood.
A beautiful ball to No. 26 Adison Judd gave her a breakaway with only the goalie standing between her and the net. With a defender bearing down Judd takes a shot, CCC’s goalie blocks it, a beautiful save, but the ball is loose and the goalie is out of position. Henderson and Judd along with two Comets in hot pursuit rush towards the ball in front of the now empty net. Judd screens one defender, leaving Henderson alone with the last. She jumps, is pushed sideways by the defender and volleys the ball mid-air with the inside of her foot. The ball floats over Judd and the CCC player, everyone watches as it lands just inside the corner of the goal, scoring LMC’s first of many goals.
The Comets picked it up, shaken but not broken by the intense offense from LMC. However, the Mustangs were yet to deploy their ultimate weapon to the field.
Baldwin dominated the left wing, using her speed to win balls and create very good opportunities for scoring throughout the game. Her play certainly softened up the Comets, but when No. 3 Alondra Tellez stepped onto the field, the game was all but over.
The LMC Mustangs were being merciful by keeping Tellez off the field until this point. After she was unleashed, it was a bloodbath. With three goals and an assist in addition to countless re-possessions, Tellez hit the Comets like a freight train. Run after run kept CCC under constant pressure. Paired with LMC’s ironclad defense that let nothing past, the Mustang’s powerful offense was able to keep the pressure on for the rest of the first half.
Tellez was the star of this game but the whole Mustang offense is to be commended for the amazing show of force. The midfield was able to move the ball with control and get it to the outside and utilize their forwards very well. The team as a whole looks unrecognizable from the start of the season. There was almost never a moment where there wasn’t an option to pass to. They have developed around each other and learned the rhythm of their teammates, so they can move as one unified force, a dagger pointed at the throat of their opponents.
The Mustangs struck again 35 minutes into the first half, when No. 9 Melanie Dominguez received the ball on the right wing and carried the ball down the line. The ball made its way across the entirety of the offensive line, then across to No. 19 Lesley Mendoza, to Tellez, she’s under pressure, back to Mendoza, Mendoza can’t find a shot, Comets are bearing down, back to Tellez, she winds up and releases. A shot for the ages soars up, ball twisting in the air. CCC’s goalie jumps, her gloves barely grazing the bottom of the ball as it flies just under the crossbar and into the goal, setting the score at 2-0 to LMC.
“Scoring that first goal felt great,” said Tellez. “It was a great goal and it motivated me to keep pushing and score more and that’s exactly what I did.”
The Mustangs continued their domination, creating many scoring chances to close out the first half.
After the half, the Mustangs kept up the pressure but the Comets made sure everyone knew they weren’t out yet. The battle between the teams raged on until in the 78th minute, LMC struck again as Tellez finished a beautiful assist from Henderson bringing the score to 3-0. From that point on, the game was shooting practice for LMC.
In the span of 12 minutes, LMC racked up three more goals, one after the next. No. 7 Kelsey Imrisek-Kawalkowski scores, helped by Mendoza in the 82nd minute. Judd rocketed in another one unassisted with five minutes to go. Two minutes later Tellez scored again with the help of Judd, earning herself a hat trick and the title of LMC’s offensive monster of the game.
“The game went according to plan,” said Judd. “We knew we were capable of beating them, but wanted to keep a clean sheet this time.”
The plan was to come out aggressive but composed, and the plan worked towards the end of both of the halves, she said.
The Mustangs will bring their fierce play to their next game at home Friday, Nov. 7 against Woodland. They hope to keep the energy up for their playoff appearance starting in two weeks.
More photos below from the game.
