PD Girls Soccer Loses In CIF Heartbreaker

With three minutes to go in the game, the Lady Aztecs were anticipating a win over undefeated Lancaster Desert Christian and a CIF semifinal berth. 

Fifteen minutes later, they were walking off the field with their season over. 

Desert Christian scored with two minutes to go to force overtime, and then got the game winning goal just four minutes into the extra period to beat Palm Desert 3-2. 

Palm Desert had a 2-1 lead at the halftime break on goals from junior forward Lilly Green and senior forward Kenzie Bell, both assisted by junior midfielder Makalya Mendoza.  

“It was a rollercoaster,” Palm Desert head coach Jayme Webb said of the game.  “We had it. We had it. And then the second half … we had it at the end of the first [half].” 

The second half became a very physical affair for both teams, with more than the usual amount of pushes and shoves. Although Palm Desert had the early momentum, the visiting Lady Knights swung things back, keeping the Palm Desert defense on its heels.

Desert Christian used long throws into the penalty area requiring big saves and deflections by Palm Desert sophomore goalkeeper Katie Drake. 

The game took a back-and-forth attitude with about 20 minutes remaining and stayed that way into the final moments. Then the wheels came off for Palm Desert. 

With two minutes to go, Desert Christian scored on a header following an on target corner kick that went into heavy traffic in front of Drake, tying the game at 2-2. 

Seconds after the restart, the referee signaled both teams apart and issued a red card to Aztec sophomore midfielder Brigette Crisp. She left the field in tears, explaining to Coach Webb: “He said I threw a punch. I never did.”  

The call not only left the Aztecs down a player, but also left observers bewildered by the call as it seems to have happened away from the ball. 

Palm Desert came close to ending the game in the first minute of overtime as a crossing pass skimmed just wide of the goal.  

Desert Christian countered at the 4 minute mark when the ball slipped out of heavy traffic in front of the Lady Aztecs goal, rolling into a corner of the net, and ending the game. 

“They just capitalized in that last five minutes,” the Aztecs coach said, “We almost had a goal, and opportunities in that overtime…  I don’t even know, I think we all got caught up in that we were playing down a player.” 

It was an unfortunate ending for a team that many considered fortunate to even be in the CIF playoffs. Palm Desert will bring back all but three players next season, which means the Lady Aztecs will have experience on their side. 

“I keep telling them, we’re coming back next season and be undefeated,”  Webb said while gesturing to celebrating Desert Christian team.  “That’s gonna be us next year.  I can feel it.”