(Walnut, CA) After completing a very successful 2019 season, the Mt. SAC Women's Soccer team will build on that success for 2021.
The Mounties are 1-1 to date and will be hosting their very first Nike/Azteca Soccer Tournament this weekend (Sept. 3, 5).
This is the first year that the annual Men's Nike/Azteca Soccer Tournament has included the women in the tourney.
Mt. SAC will play Lake Tahoe Saturday (Sept. 4) and another game on Sunday (Sept. 5) at noon with an opponent TBD. The other two teams competing are Irvine Valley and Norco colleges.
The women's program, with men's coach Juan Sanchez at the helm in 2019, completed a successful season with a 14-7 overall record and a strong showing in the playoffs.
They are hoping to build off of that success, even though the pandemic interrupted the season.
"It's been more downs than ups and makes you grateful just being out there, hungrier than ever," Sanchez said. "It wasn't fun sitting out that long."
The Mounties, who have been in the postseason only once since 2015, advanced to the second round of the CCCAA So Cal Regional playoffs in 2019.
An overtime loss to San Bernardino Valley College ended their season, as they came within two wins of the state championship tournament.
Stephanie Robles, who was on that 2019 team, is currently playing at NCAA DI Texas Southern University, while Hannah Grady is at DI Portland State.
In addition, Pamela Huaman is currently playing at DII Cal State L.A.
"This is the first time in years that we had players go to DI and DII schools," Sanchez said.
Three other players are attending Cal State Fullerton for academics only.
Mt. SAC has won state titles in 1992 and 1995 under former Assistant Athletic Director, Debbie Cavion, who was a coach for those teams.
"It was a great season and the potential is there for this years' team," said Sanchez, who will lead the team along with Co-Coach Rachel Schmid. "You put in the love and passion and the girls responded. I love coaching to the core."
Schmid comes to Mt. SAC with many accolades, as she currently serves on the coaching staff of the L.A. Galaxy Girls Academy (U19's). She won a CIF Southern Section title at Mission Viejo in 2002 and played at UC Irvine from 2005-08.
Mt. SAC originally had 45 girls try out for the team and now has a 26 on its roster.
"We're trying to bridge what happened in the 2019 season to this year," Sanchez said. "Two returners from that team – Jackie Coronado and Alyssa Williams – have really stepped up in leadership roles.
"We have a nice group of girls coming in that are really good soccer players."
Sanchez talked about the lost year everyone had in recruiting.
"It hurt us to lose a year," he said. "We (coaches Schmid, Mike Fernandez, Andy Gutierrez and Yvette Vascones) worked hard to recruit."
One of those recruits that Sanchez is high on is freshman goalkeeper, Leila Peregrina. "She is going to be one of our top players," Sanchez added. "She is a very nice find for us."
"It is a change of mindset," Sanchez concluded. "When the players see that enthusiasm, it transcends."
That winning feeling started up again in 2019 is back for the women at Mt. SAC.
Follow Mt. SAC Women's Soccer on Twitter @mtsacwsoccer
Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on Twitter @MtSAC_athletics or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.