A year ago, the Trojans women's soccer team played their final match of the regular season on sophomore day for nothing more than pride. Today, there was more than pride on the line as EvCC was fighting for the third and final spot in the NWAC playoffs. But it would be no easy task facing the #1 ranked Peninsula Pirates and needing at least a win to ensure the season would continue.
The Trojans played solid defense to start the game even through steady pressure from the Pirate attack. NWAC leading goal scorer Sam Oliveira would strike for her 20th goal on the year in the 22nd minute to put the Pirates on top 1-0. Everett responded and tightened up the defense through the rest of the half, not allowing another shot on goal, however they too were hard pressed to generate an effective attack and only mustered one shot on goal of their own.
The second half turned out to be another defensive struggle, and neither team applied much pressure on the opposing goalkeeper. Peninsula, who played three goalkeepers in the game combined for only three saves, and Everett's sophomore Emma Allison recorded just one save.
When the final whistle blew, the Trojans found themselves on the wrong end of a 1-0 score, and across town Skagit Valley College defeated Edmonds CC effectively eliminating EvCC from the playoffs.
Everett finished the year with a 5-5-5 record in North Region play and 9-6-5 overall. The Trojans have improved record-wise in each season of Rafael Marins' first three years as the head coach.
The season is not over for all the Trojans however as the all star voting will end this week and several EvCC players have an opportunity to be selected for the NWAC All Star Game on November 17th.