Lady Pioneers fall to Pima CC 3-1 in Nationals

BREVARD COUNTY, FL - Pima Community College chipped away and chipped away and finally cracked the Spartanburg Methodist defense and goalkeeper Lara Jackson (Laurens, SC / Laurens High) on Tuesday night to win its debut in the 2015 NJCAA Women's Division I Soccer Championship.

The 3-1 victory sets up Pima to play No. 1 nationally ranked and tournament top seed Eastern Florida in the final pool game at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday with a semifinal berth at stake.

Playing at the Titan Soccer Complex on Eastern Florida's Melbourne Campus, Jackson continually frustrated Pima, which whiffed on a golden opportunity in the opening moments, missing an open net.

Callen Shelton finally solved Jackson with 14:46 to play in the first half, giving Pima 1-0 lead.

Seven minutes later Kayla McMillian (Spartanburg, SC / Dorman High) drew Spartanburg Methodist even 1-1, giving the Pioneers their first goal of the tournament. Cyarah Wilson (Summerville, SC / Summerville High) provided the assist. 

Jackson, a freshman, also was big early in the second half as Pima pressed the attack but couldn't finish.

But once again Shelton solved the problem, finding the back of the net with 30:37 to play for a 2-1 Pima lead.

Devyn Hunley iced it for Pima at 3-1 as she broke away, faked by Jackson and calmly walked the ball into the empty net.

The defeat eliminated 12th seed Spartanburg Methodist, which lost 7-0 to Eastern Florida on Monday.

Spartanburg Methodist finishes their season with a 13-9 record.

View tournament photos here