Mariners Soccer pulled a big upset on Tuesday, defeating perennial contender Solano College 2-1 in Fairfield. College of Marin used first half goals from Elise Perez and Deidre Hyde to take a 2-0 halftime advantage. Solano scored in the second half, but the Mariners' defense held strong to keep the Falcons attack in check and grab the victory.
Marin began the game in control and as the aggressor. The team changed formation to increase their attacking prowess. They pushed attacking midfielder Deidre Hyde to center forward and Elise Perez into the attack.
Perez was the first to take advantage of her new position. She intercepted a ball at midfield and dribbled through four Solano defenders to take a shot on goal. The ball was parried but not saved by the Solano keeper. Perez pounced on the rebound in the box and shot again but was also denied. She managed to get the ball back for a third chance and converted with a shot off in inside of the right post for the opening goal of the match.
Minutes later, Hyde found the net for Marin as well. She took a pass from Jurany Pohl at the top of the box and powered a shot past the keeper and into the net for a 2-0 lead for the Mariners. They maintained the advantage before halftime. Solano was unable to muster much of an attack in the first half as Marin keeper Vanessa Miller saved all shot opportunities in the first 45 minutes of competition.
The second half saw the possession flipped in favor of the Falcons. Solano was the aggressor in the final stanza as they looked to rally from their deficit. They earned a penalty in the 55th minute which was converted by Jaylynn DelRosario to half the Mariners' lead to 2-1. The goal energized them further, but Marin's defense was up to the task.
Solano attacked mercilessly and managed eight total shots on goal in the second half. Other than the converted penalty, Miller saved everyone and maintained the Mariners lead. College of Marin held on and grabbed the victory at the final whistle.
Perez's goal was her seventh of the year and temporarily tied her for the team lead with Hyde. However, Hyde scored shortly afterward, her eighth of the year to retake the team lead. Pohl provided the assist on Hyde's goal, her third of the year, second best on the team.
It was Marin's first win over Solano in several seasons, and their seventh of the season. Their record improved to 6-2-1 in Bay Valley Conference play just behind 7-2 Solano and within striking distance of undefeated leaders Los Medanos.
Marin hosts Los Medanos on Friday, November 2nd with kickoff scheduled for 4pm.