PCC Women’s Soccer Ends Injury-Plagued Year with 0-0 Tie

The Pasadena City College women’s soccer team finally was able to return a few regulars to the starting lineup in its season finale and it helped the Lancers earn a 0-0 tie against Long Beach City College November 14. The team’s South Coast Conference game was played under the lights at Robinson Stadium as part of Sophomore Night.

Lancers’ goalkeeper Angelique Ulmer added to her school career record for shutouts by recording her 13th over two seasons. Ulmer made seven saves in her final Lancers game.

Other sophomores finishing their PCC careers were defender Danielle Busta, defender Bailey Shaw-Rodriguez (did not play, suffered season-ending foot injury at the 9-game mark), defender Karina Costilla, forward Christine Salas (three goals this year), forward Sara Oceguera, and midfielder Carmen Aguilar. Midfielder Rebecca Caamano is a freshman eligible but is graduating from PCC (played in only seven games due to injury).

The Lancers finished the ’14 season at 5-12-4 overall and 3-9-2 in SCC play (sixth place). PCC did not score a goal in its final six games, a stretch where the team often had to play with only a few reserves. The team’s opening-day starting lineup changed frequently due to injuries as four key players were lost during the year for significant periods.

“We finally had a few players back in the finale and that’s why we didn’t give up a goal,” said PCC head coach Reggie Rivas. “It was a tough year even going back to a crazy trip to Cuyamaca where a tornado canceled our game there. We had a big win over a playoff-bound team Mt. San Jacinto and that was our season highlight. You have to have your best players available against our conference teams or they will eat you alive. We will reload and make 2015 a successful comeback.”

PCC’s leading points scorer this year was freshman midfielder Rachel Schroeder, who missed seven games due to a concussion, with five goals and three assists in 14 games. Freshman forward Ani Hemelians tied Schroeder with five goals. Ulmer recorded 126 saves and 201 for her Lancers’ career.

Busta (missed four games) and Shaw-Rodriguez were All-SCC players as freshmen while Schroeder and forward Alexandra Bissell (missed eight games) were also key players whose absence in the lineup weakened the team and contributed to derailing PCC’s chances of winning in conference play.