#5 NAVARRO DEFEATS #17 BLINN 1-0

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

A big-time showdown between Region 14 rivals came down to two key plays Wednesday.

A would-be go-ahead goal by the 17th-ranked Blinn College women’s soccer team in the 12th minute was negated by an offsides penalty, and No. 5 Navarro later tallied the deciding score in the 79th for a 1-0 victory at Rankin Field in Brenham, Texas.

The loss was the first of the season for the Buccaneers (4-1-1, 3-1-1 Region 14).

“We went toe-to-toe with the fifth-ranked team in the nation, and for 82 minutes we matched them,” Blinn head coach Alexandria Jackson said. “One moment at the end was the difference. That’s the fine margin at this level, but this is proof that we belong. We need to take this loss on the chin, use this as fuel for the next game, and move forward.”

Navarro scored the game’s only goal when freshman midfielder Maria Delago lofted a long shot just over the outstretched arm of Bucs freshman goalkeeper Haidlyn Hawkins.

Throughout the contest, Blinn had several opportunities to grab a lead or tie the match, but its most impressive shot was nullified.

Sophomore defender Ashlee Rodriguez almost put Blinn ahead in the first half after she put the ball back into play on a throw-in inside Bulldog territory. Sophomore midfielder Genevive Lillard evaded a defender and immediately played the ball back to Rodriguez, who pushed a sideline shot past a second defender. The ball floated just over the Navarro keeper and bounced pole to pole before rolling into the net.

Instead of a 1-0 lead for the hosts, the goal was waved off by an untimely offsides call.

On the night, the Bulldogs out-shot the Bucs 13-8.

Hawkins made five saves for Blinn.

The Bucs will look to get back into the win column when they take on No. 15 Trinity Valley Community College at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Rankin Field.