COD (3-3) leveled their record on the 2021 season, as they used a game winning goal in the 75th minute off the foot of Ashley Murguia and a dominating defensive performance to knock off the Santa Ana Dons (2-2-1), 1-0

From the opening whistle, the Roadrunners took it to Santa Ana, a level of aggressive offense and potent defense which was impressive to see. Within the first minute, Desert had secured a penalty kick and while sophomore midfielder Ashley Murguia (Indio H.S.) was unable to convert that opportunity, she would take 11 total shots including three shots on goal throughout the course of this game.

Desert kept the offensive pressure on the Dons, leaving freshman goal keeper Jessica Uribe (Indio Shadow Hills) with very little to do as she faced a shot on goal in the first and one in the second half, for her second clean sheet of the season.

In the 38th minute, sophomore midfielder Jasmine Castillo (Indio Shadow Hills) had a chance to give the Roadrunners the lead, as she pounded a shot that careened off of the crossbar.

In the 75th minute, Desert got onto the scoreboard as Murguia received a pass from sophomore defender Alejandra Carrillo (Desert Hot Springs H.S.) and from 40 yards out punched a low rolling kick that startled the Santa Ana keeper, lumbering into the lower left corner of the net, to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead.

Moments later, Murguia could have given Desert a 2-0 lead, but another shot from distance caught the Dons off guard as her attempt thumped off of the crossbar.

Freshman forward Rubi Borjas (Thermal Coachella Valley) had two shots on goal and freshman midfielder Monserrath Bedolla-Guzman (Thermal Coachella Valley) had three total shots and a shot on goal in the win.

The Roadrunners played the Dons for the first time in program history in 2019 and are now 1-1 all-time against Santa Ana. It is the first time that the Dons Women's Soccer team has traveled to Palm Desert.

The next game for Desert is on Friday, September 24 at the Compton Tartars. The Roadrunners first played Compton on 2010 and have a 2-4-1 record against the Tartars, including 1-2-1 record in Compton. The last time Desert defeated the Tartars was in 2016, which was also the most recent time that these teams played against one another.

-Spectator Notice-

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Information, Story & Photo provided by COD Sports Information.