GCC cashes in on key rebounds
NORTHEAST GLENDALE — For all the time spent in the opposition’s territory, all the members of the Glendale Community College women’s soccer team could do was keep launching shots at the net.
For all the shots on goal, nothing worked. Then the Vaqueros got the break they needed by capitalizing on a couple of rebounds.
America Lopez scored a pair of goals in the final five minutes of the first half to give host Glendale a 2-0 Western State Conference victory against L.A. Mission College on Friday night at Sartoris Field.
Lopez scored in the 35th minute to give the Vaqueros (3-8 and 1-3 in conference) a 1-0 lead. She then completed the scoring with a goal with 20 seconds left in the first half that further deflated Mission (0-9, 0-4).
“We’ve been struggling, but it’s good to be able to bounce back,” Glendale Coach Jorge Mena said. “We knew it would be this way, so we had to settle things down and keep creating chances.
“We created like 20 chances, and we were able to get two. We were able to take care of the ball and move it around.”
Glendale’s hard work paid dividends in the 35th minute. Natalie Burns fired a shot that Mission goalkeeper Pamela Mier stopped. However, the rebound came directly to an uncovered Lopez, who had no trouble putting the ball in the back of the net to make it 1-0.
Lopez provided the Vaqueros with an insurance goal when she pounced on another rebound left in front of the net by Mier.
“America is good at scoring on rebounds,” said Mena, whose team finished with 16 shots on goal. “It’s one of the things that she does best.
“I’m grateful that we didn’t lose our composure after missing on some of our chances. We started to regain our composure and we able to stick to our game plan.”
The Vaqueros didn’t allow a shot on goal, as Mission rarely entered into their territory.
Glendale saw Mier finish with 14 saves. She tipped shots by Burns and Lesly Monteros over the crossbar.
Glendale will next participate in a conference home match against L.A. Valley College at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
