Citrus Advances After Dramatic PK Victory, Earns Program’s First Playoff Win

Women's Soccer earned its first-ever postseason victory last night, defeating Western State Conference South rival Santa Monica College 1–1 (5–4 in penalty kicks) on Wednesday, November 19 in Round One of the 3C2A Women's Soccer Southern California Regionals.

Entering as the No. 19 seed, the Owls returned to Santa Monica (No. 13 seed) seeking redemption after a 6–1 regular-season loss to the Corsairs on October 30 — and they found it in dramatic fashion.

Both teams came out with playoff urgency, familiar with each other after two intense conference matchups earlier in the year. Citrus struck first in the 16th minute when Mikani Telles curled in a shot from inside the left corner of the 18-yard box off a setup from Alexia Leon, giving the Owls a 1–0 advantage. The rest of the first half remained competitive, with Citrus finishing the period with four shots, two corners, and a save from goalkeeper Liliana Miramontes.

The second half mirrored the intensity of the first as both sides battled physically for control. In the 75th minute, Santa Monica earned a penalty kick after a foul was called inside the box. The Corsairs converted from the spot to even the match at 1–1. Despite late pushes from both teams, regulation ended still deadlocked, sending the match into overtime.

Neither side could find the winner in either of the two 15-minute overtime periods, setting the stage for a decisive penalty shootout.

In the shootout, Bridget Ward, Aubrianna Mejia, Alyssa Quiroz, and Alexia Leon each converted their attempts to keep Citrus level at 4–4. Then came the defining moment: Miramontes — already steady in goal — saved Santa Monica's fifth attempt. She then stepped up to the spot herself and buried the clinching kick, securing Citrus College's historic first postseason win.

The Owls now advance to face No. 3–ranked Long Beach City College in Round Two this Saturday, November 22 at 6 p.m. at the Long Beach City College Soccer Complex.