A familiar foe awaits the Pima College men's soccer team in the national semifinals.
The Aztecs will take on No. 1-seeded Phoenix College on Thursday at 2 p.m. Tucson time in the NJCAA Division II Final Four in Wichita, Kan.
No. 7 seed Pima is 1-2 against the Bears this year, losing 3-0 on Sept. 3, winning 3-2 at home on Oct. 4 and falling 4-2 in the Region I, Division I championship on Nov. 5.
The Pima College men's soccer team celebrates after clinching a spot in the national semifinals thanks to a 2-0 victory on Nov. 18, 2025.
The Aztecs (18-3) went 2-0 in pool play this week, beating No. 11 St. Clair County (Mich.) CC 3-0 on Monday and then upsetting No. 2 Iowa Lakes CC 2-0 on Tuesday.
Nathan Flores helped Pima finally break through against Iowa Lakes CC with a goal off an assist from Leonel Gutierrez in the 71st minute. Edgar Leyva-Miranda then made it 2-0 with a goal in the 74th minute.
“I think we’re ready to right our wrongs from last year," said Leyva-Miranda in a press release, about how Pima lost in the national semifinals to Northeast (Neb.) CC in penalty kicks.
Pima had seven shots on goal in the win as Aztecs goalkeeper Tommaso Leonardi had three saves.
Gutierrez, Sean Ribadeneira and Flores all scored in Monday's shutout win.
Women's soccer
The Aztecs' season came to a close in pool play of the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, as No. 6 Pima lost 2-0 to No. 3 Heartland (Ill.) CC on Tuesday in Wichita.
Pima suffered its first shutout loss of the season in dropping its first game since Aug. 28.
On Monday, Pima, which finishes the season 14-2-5, routed No. 10 Sussex County (NJ) CC 5-0 as five different players scored. Kristal Navarro, Samantha Mendez, Yajaira Cervantes, Ava Dagnino and Gabriela Mendoza all found the net for the Aztecs.
