NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The College of Southern Nevada went toe-to-toe with No. 5 Eastern Arizona College for much of Tuesday night's ACCAC matchup, but a late first-half goal and another in the closing minutes allowed the nationally ranked Gila Monsters to escape Cheyenne Sports Complex with a 2-0 victory.
CSN kept the match within a goal until the 81st minute and generated several opportunities against an Eastern Arizona side that entered the night unbeaten. The loss moved the Lady Coyotes to 1-3-2 overall and 0-2-0 in ACCAC play, while EAC improved to 8-0-0 overall and 2-0-0 in conference play.
The Lady Coyotes tested Eastern Arizona goalkeeper Savannah Anderson early. Cristal Lara put CSN's first shot on frame in the 10th minute, and Kate Oliva followed with another attempt on goal in the 33rd.
CSN goalkeeper Madison English answered at the other end, turning away Rin Kobayashi in the 36th minute as the Lady Coyotes kept the fifth-ranked Gila Monsters off the scoreboard for more than 42 minutes.
Eastern Arizona finally broke through just before halftime. Hinoki Kawabe scored off an assist from Luca Csombor at 42:21, sending EAC into the break with a 1-0 advantage.
Southern Nevada continued to hang within striking distance after halftime. Lara nearly found the equalizer with a header in the 71st minute, but Anderson made the save. Leslie Villegas put another shot on frame in the 76th as CSN continued searching for the tying goal.
Eastern Arizona eventually added some breathing room at 80:40 when Jocelyn Vite-Maciel converted a Gabriela Filimoe'atu assist to extend the Gila Monsters' lead to 2-0.
The Lady Coyotes had an immediate opportunity to answer. CSN earned a penalty kick less than two minutes later, but Anderson stopped Lara's attempt to preserve the shutout. Lara generated another chance in the 84th minute before Villegas sent a shot high moments later.
Despite the final margin, Southern Nevada stayed close statistically with one of the nation's top-ranked teams. Eastern Arizona held a 9-7 edge in total shots, while both teams placed five shots on goal. Lara accounted for four of CSN's seven attempts and three shots on target. English finished with three saves in 90 minutes.
The Lady Coyotes remain at home for another ACCAC test when they host Mohave College on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at Cheyenne Sports Complex in North Las Vegas.
