Sophomore forward Rocio Hernandez (pictured) scored a pair of first-half goals while sophomore goalkeeper Jeanette DeAnda and the Long Beach City College defense fought off numerous scoring attacks as the Vikings held on to knock off No. 5 state-ranked Mt. San Antonio College on Tuesday at LBCC.
The South Coast Conference win improved Long Beach to 9-4-4 overall and 5-2-4 in the SCC. The Vikings have lost just one of their past eight games with three contests left on the regular-season schedule.
The victory also marked LBCC's second win over a top-five ranked opponent this season. On October 9, the Vikings upset previously No. 1 state-ranked Cerritos College 2-1 on the road.
Mt. SAC (12-3-3, 6-2-3 SCC) entered the contest ranked No. 15 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) Junior College Division III national poll and No. 5 in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA)/California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA) rankings.
Hernandez and sophomore forward Paola Alonso connected for goals in the 5th and 25th minutes to shock the Mounties and give the Vikings a 2-0 halftime lead.
Mt. SAC came out on the offensive in the second half and held possession on the Vikings' half of the field for the majority of the final 45 minutes. The Mounties outshot the Vikings 8-4 in the second and finally erased the shutout when Jacqueline Eaves headed in a corner kick from Alexandra Cortes in the 57th minute.
DeAnda and the LBCC defense were up to the challenge. DeAnda made four of her five saves in the second half, including two on breakaways during the final five minutes of the game.
Long Beach also got strong defensive efforts from sophomores Marissa Macias, Yahaira Hernandez, and Priscilla Perez.
The Vikings return to action on Friday (Nov. 2) at 4 p.m. when they will host rival Cerritos in their final regular-season home match of the season.
Photo by Chris Ruiz