The San Diego City College Women’s soccer team earned their first win in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference with a solid 3-1 victory over Mira Costa College on Sept. 28th.

The Knights began to attack the Mira Costa Spartans head on from the first minute of the game.

San Diego freshman Monzerrat Tavera got on the ball early and lead a charge down the right wing. Keeping her head down and fending two Mira Costa defenders away from her, she crossed the ball into the box where midfielder Patrice Lawrence knocked the ball in to the goal to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.

Mira Costa midfielder Sage Morretti proved to be a calm and effective winger who was instrumental in getting the ball up to the Spartan forwards. Morretti’s passing abilities allowed the taller and more physical Mira Costa attackers to charge the San Diego goal with gusto.

Tavera caught the Mira Costa goalie in a one-on-one situation in the 25th minute only to have her shot stopped by a choice sliding save. However, the offensive push set San Diego up for a crucial corner kick in the 26th minute. Knight’s forward Brenda Renteria was in the right spot to blast the ball past the Spartan goalie and score the second goal of the game.

By the 30th minute it was obvious that the Knights were continually building confidence while the Spartans resorted to cheap fouling. In the last quarter of the first half, the Spartans committed several back-to-back fouls against the Knights.

After a cheeky back-heel pass, Renteria showed off her dribbling skills inside Mira Costa’s penalty box. Her touch on the ball was so accurate that at many times it appeared as if she were running on a cushion of air.

The Knights continued their onslaught with Tevera’s ability to get in behind the Spartans defensive line and attack Mira Costa’s goalie.

In the 44th minute of the first half, Renteria scored on a corner kick to extend the Knight’s lead to 3-0.

In the 28th minute of the second half, Morretti ran on a through ball played to her from a fellow Spartan teammate and slotted the ball in to the Knight’s goal. The 3-1 score lifted the Spartan’s hopes of winning the game, only to have the Knights increase their intensity.

Both sides grinded out the last quarter of the second half trying to exploit the weakness of the other team. However, the Knights were able to hold the Spartans from scoring again to secure San Diego’s 3-1 win.

San Diego’s head coach Andi Milburn said after the game, “ We brought good intensity today…We’ve been in a bit of a slump, but it’s good to turn things around headed into our next games.”

The Knights will next face the Imperial Valley Arabs at home on Oct. 9 and the Grossmont Griffins at home on Oct. 12.