The Los Medanos College Women’s soccer team took home a decisive 4-0 victory at home against Woodland Nov. 7 in their final home game of the regular season. The win brought LMC’s winning streak to nine as the team continues to flex their strength going into the post conference play.
The match began with a ceremony for the sophomores who will soon be moving on from LMC, receiving bouquets to honor their dedication and skills on the team.
“It’s sad because I’ve played with a lot of them since I was like four years old,” LMC sophomore No. 8 Maya Alvarez said. “This is our last time playing at home together, and the season is almost over.”
As the sophomores received their honors and the ceremony ended, the match began with intensity, as both sides showcased their skills early. LMC’s passing game was on point, and the quick pace and chemistry allowed them several good chances. The defensive line had developed since the last time the Mustangs faced Woodland; they looked more coordinated and more aggressive.
Their mettle was tested around 15 minutes into the half when a perfectly placed ball from Woodland’s midfield allowed their forward to beat LMC’s centerback, and have a wide open field in front of them. LMC’s No. 17 Katrina “Bam” Xaysana was behind the attacker, but it was the difference between victory and defeat in this moment.
Bam closed the gap to about an arm’s length, but Woodland’s forward was pulling away.
“I saw my last defender get beaten,” Xaysana said. “I knew I wasn’t going to be able to get her if I was just running.”
Her nickname is not Bam for nothing, as she consistently proves to be stronger on the ball than her opponents and is not afraid to get physical to win. Just as the attacker was getting away, Xaysana leapt forward to slide-tackle the ball out from under the girl’s feet. The slide was just enough to dislodge the ball from the forward’s feet, who fell forward as Bam slid underneath.
“It started when I started comp, my mom kind of gave me that name because I don’t know my own strength,” she said. “I would like to push around my dad. So she just called me Bam-Bam, from the Flintstones.”
“Sliding gave me a little more headway,” she said. “I knew if tackled, it would be done, whether it was a foul or not.”
With Woodland’s offensive chance crushed and the Mustang defensive line back in position to defend, the danger was over as LMC’s defensive anchor claimed another victim in the defensive end.
With their flank secured, the Mustang offense went on the attack, eventually finding their break from a throw-in to LMC’s No. 7 Kelsey Imrisek-Kawalkowski, who lined up for a shot. However, the Woodland defense was quickly moving to swarm the right side of the field. Imrisek-Kawalkowski decided to switch the point of attack to the less busy left side with a cross to LMC’s No. 18 Reagan Thomas. Thomas receives but is under pressure, LMC’s No. 12 Alyse Baldwin is wide open just outside the box, Thomas makes the pass, Baldwin takes the ball, she has time. Baldwin takes a step forward with the ball, winds up, releases and it’s a beautiful shot crushed straight into the back of the net, leaving LMC ahead at 1-0.
LMC wasn’t done yet; however, over the next 11 minutes, they would fight ferociously in the offensive end. Imrisek-Kawalkowski wanted her shot at goal, and two minutes after Baldwin, she would get a chance in the form of a pass from LMC’s No. 19 Lesly Mendoza.
Imrisek-Kawalkowski received the ball in space and made a gorgeous shot that curved just inside the right side of the goal, bringing the score to 2-0, LMC.
The spree wasn’t over yet, as LMC still had the momentum and was still pushing deep into the Eagles’ defensive end. Fighting along the right line by LMC’s No. 10 Tatiana Diaz and No. 9 Melanie Dominguez kept the ball inside the danger zone until eventually the ball went out for an LMC corner kick.
Diaz delivered the corner and placed a great cross just in front of the goal, and over the keeper’s head. It was chaos, with defenders trying to stay on their mark and attackers looking for open space, as everyone shifted around the box. LMC’s No. 26 Adison Judd was calm in the eye of the hurricane, watching the ball fly in, she made a small adjustment to her position, lowered her head and tapped the ball in, to bring the score to 3-0, LMC.
LMC’s offensive surge continued and eventually fizzled out without yielding more goals, but with a three-goal lead going into the half, Woodland had their work cut out for it to bring the game back.
Coming back from halftime, both teams had rest, but it was immediately clear the Mustangs were back on the hunt. Within 30 seconds, a play was forming for LMC. LMC’s No. 5 Sofia Henderson carries the ball into the offensive end and manages to find No. 3 Alondra Tellez with an open shot on goal. Henderson makes the pass, Tellez makes the trap, then takes the shot and scores faster than the fans can comprehend. The game was back on, leaving the score 4-0 in under 30 seconds.
Woodland was jolted awake by the sudden attack and redoubled their defensive efforts, closing out the game without allowing any more points. LMC tried their hardest to break the standstill, but weren’t able to break through.
“I feel like when we started, we weren’t really a team,” said Bam. “We weren’t playing like a team. We were just individual talents. But seeing how far we have gotten, we are able to play without even having to talk to each other. It’s just, I like seeing us grow.”
The team has gotten into their groove throughout the season, struggling initially but coming back from the early losses to go undefeated through conference, 8-0.
“I feel like the season went by really quickly,” said Alvarez after the game. “I’m proud of how we did.”
The surge that the Mustangs accomplished in the first half is a testament to their coordination and elite individual skill level. They are always at the right place at the right time, especially in the middle. They have, over the course of the season, created a rock-hard center that feeds their quick forwards and can support the defense when needed.
“I feel like there’s a lot of individually good players on this team,” said Alvarez. Because they have known each other for so long and have played either with or against one another, they have developed a knack for playing well together.
The result is that the team as a whole moves together, barely needing to check whether everyone is in the right place. Their individual skills enable them to capitalize on opportunities when the team does get a chance, thanks to their high individual skill level. They are both practiced in the theory of play and reliable in their execution of the game. This makes for a deadly combo on the field.
The team won their game on Nov. 11 against Solano on the road, bringing their winning streak to 10 in a row going into the playoffs. Their next game will be under the lights at home on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.
Overall, the team was pleased to leave the fans with a strong performance as they enter the playoffs, where the competition is sure to intensify.
