Mesa women’s soccer (11-6-0 overall, 10-3-0 conference) closed out Southwestern (6-8-1, 3-7-1) with a 4-0 victory Nov. 2 – inching their way to one conference point behind second ranked in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) Grossmont College (10-5-3, 10-3-1).
Allyson Sherwood, freshman forward, dominated the Jaguars on Mesa’s home field with two goals and an assist.
Freshmen Bryttni Chisholm, forward, and Jaana Klaber, center mid-field, followed Sherwood’s performance with one goal apiece.
The young squad with only a single sophomore has rebounded from a rocky 1-3 record in early non-conference play.
“Being a group of freshmen, at the beginning of the year we definitely went through some growing pains, some learning experience which probably cost us a few games,” said Head Coach Todd Curran.
Mesa is now less than a game from second in the PCAC, No. 19 in the California Community College Soccer Regional Standings for the south region and held five of their six losses to a single goal.
“I’m not surprised. I figured we’d be challenging for the conference title and I knew it would be an uphill battle with 22 freshmen,” said Curran.
With three games left in the season Mesa sits two games behind PCAC ‘s first ranked Miramar (16-1-0, 12-1-0).
“We’re probably not going to win conference, unless Miramar drops two of their last three games,” said Curran, “Which I don’t think will happen.”
Despite not being able to grab the PCAC title and a guaranteed a spot in the southern California regional championships Curran is hopeful the team, which has been to the regional playoffs every year since 1998, can grab one of the 10 “at large” spots.
The final games against Cuyamaca, San Diego City (0-16-0, 0-11-0) and Mira Costa (3-11-1, 2-7-1) should be an easy ride to a 13-3 record for the Olympians.
Mesa defeated Cuyamaca 2-0 in their last show down; San Diego City has scored a single goal since their last matchup against Mesa compared to 24 goals against; and Mira Costa is on a four game losing streak that Mesa started with a 6-1 trouncing on Oct. 12.
“We’re optimistic that we will get one of the last two playoff berths,” said Curran.