On a rain-soaked field at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex on Friday, in College Station, Texas, the Buccaneers earned a 4-0 victory over Trinity Valley Community College to move one step closer to the NJCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship tournament.
The postseason victory was the second for the Blinn women’s since the school launched its men’s and women’s soccer programs in 2018. The Buccaneers improved to 12-4 overall and will now battle ninth-ranked Navarro in the semifinals at noon on Sunday, Oct. 29, at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.
(Pictured: Blinn College freshman MaKayla Police)
Friday’s result was a positive end to a whirlwind of adjustments for the Bucs, who were originally set to host the matchup on their home field in Brenham, Texas, before local storms forced a shift. Two times changes followed as the game shifted from 5 p.m. to noon to 1:30 p.m.
“There was a lot happening before the game, but the girls dealt with it quite well,” Blinn head coach Alexandria Jackson said. “They performed at a high level mentally and physically despite the challenges.”
The Bucs’ offensive output was split evenly between the two halves of play and was started by two of their top goal scorers this season.
The scoring started in the second minute of play when freshman forward MaKayla Police turned a long pass into the attacking third from sophomore defender Emma Orozco into a goal. Police quickly fired her shot past the outstretched arm of the Cardinal goalkeeper.
(Pictured: Blinn College sophomore Brianna Hoffman)
In the 25th minute, sophomore midfielder Brianna Hoffman gathered a feed from freshman forward Marissa Aparicio and buried it for a 2-0 edge.
“Our attack was working all game, and when we got into the attacking third of the field, we cashed in on our chances,” Jackson added.
Hoffman and Police, along with sophomore forward Emeyda Cruz, have scored a team-best nine goals for the Bucs this fall.
After Aparicio scored in the 49th minute (assisted by sophomore midfielder Rileigh Toner), Cruz scored on an assist from freshman midfielder Aneth Martínez in minute 79.
Blinn played as efficient a game as it could, tallying each of its goals on just four shots.
Defensively, the Bucs held Trinity Valley without a shot and the Bucs also earned an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks.
In goal for Blinn was freshman keeper Cheiann George, who made three saves in 90 minutes of play.
Next up is a rematch between two of Region XIV’s top teams. Blinn owns a forfeit victory over Navarro this season, and is no stranger to the Bulldogs when it comes to the postseason. Navarro eliminated the Bucs from the region tournament in 2020 and 2021.
This time around, Blinn enters the matchup as one of the top two seeds in the bracket for the first time in team history to go with a program record in victories and goals scored.
“They understand they’ve accomplished so much but they’re hungry for more,” Jackson said of her team. “It seems like the road always leads to Navarro in the postseason, and we’re ready to meet them again. It’s going to be a competitive match and we look forward to it.”
The matchup can be watched live through TSBN Sports at www. buccaneersports.com/sports/womens-soccer/schedule.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 44 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
