Paige Rodriguez’s hat-trick aided Long Beach City College women’s soccer as it defeated Rio Hondo College 6-2, moving its way into the SCC Championship.
This game had LBCC middle forward Rodriguez’s name written all over it as she had a career day.
“I’m pretty proud of myself, I don’t score hat tricks that often,” Rodriguez said.
The first of her three goals came with a little over 31 minutes left to go in the first half as she boomed her kick from a fairly good distance past Rio Hondo goalkeeper Isabel Maldonado for the first points of the game.
The second goal of the game scored was by LBCC forward Hannah Marshall who was assisted by forward Kiana Moore.
Marshall and Moore both had incredible games as well. Marshall scored two goals and one assist and Moore racked up two assists.
“I think our chemistry is a really important aspect of who we are as a team because we have super strong captains and everyone gets along. We encourage each other on the field and I think that in order to win, we need to keep up that attitude,” said Marshall.
LBCC looked to be on a roll as this goal came only two minutes after Rodriguez’s goal.
Rio Hondo midfielder Janessa Gallardon answered back with two goals of her own in the span of four minutes.
Gallardo scored two consecutive goals for Rio Hondo as the game became tied 2-2.
As it seemed like it would be a tie ballgame going into halftime, Rodriguez scored her second goal assisted by midfielder Valerie Sandoval with a little over three minutes to go in the half, giving LBCC a 3-2 lead going into halftime.
The rest of the game coming out of halftime was in complete control by LBCC as it started with forward Valerie Solis scoring a goal assisted by both Marshall and Moore right by the goal line.
LBCC only got better from then on, and so Rodriguez as she scored her third goal, completing the hat trick.
Marshall then followed up Rodriguez’s goal for the second time in the game as she scored her second goal before the game ended in a 6-2 win for LBCC.
“Today’s game was a display of how well we can play when we get our foot on the gas pedal and we’re focused and driven,” said LBCC head coach Eduardo Nunes after the game. “As a team, we have a lot of strengths and a lot of girls who can score, and that’s what makes us dangerous, but we need everybody hungry.”
LBCC looks to win the conference championship as they take on Mt. SAC on Friday.