East Los Angeles College forward Perla Navarro scores a hat trick in the Huskies 3-3 draw today in the season finale.
East Los Angeles College forward Perla Navarro scores a hat trick in the Huskies 3-3 draw today in the season finale.

Hat trick hero Navarro pulls ELAC to stunning 3-3 draw in season finale

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. - The East Los Angeles College Huskies women’s soccer team stunned Mt. San Antonio College with a come-from-behind 3-3 draw from freshman forward Perla Navarro’s (Fremont HS) hat trick.

Down 3-0, Navarro’s three unanswered goals gave ELAC an amazing tie and a fitting end to the Huskies season. The Huskies finished the season 6-7-6 overall and in fourth place at 1-4-3 in the South Coast Conference North.

With the draw, ELAC ended Mt. SAC’s (9-9-2, 3-3-2) slim playoff hopes.

When the Huskies challenge Mt. SAC they rise to the level and have the Mounties’ number. After years of Mt. SAC dominating play against the Huskies, enter ELAC head coach Tessa Troglia in 2010. Since then, ELAC holds the edge with a 7-6-5 record including today’s shocking tie.

The Huskies accomplished the tie with Troglia’s strategy. She switched players out and put players in different positions getting different Huskies involved in attacks, including sophomores on Sophomore Day. When the Huskies put their forward on top, it gave them more chances of counterattacking.

Mt. SAC opened up with a 3-0 lead with increasing pressure, early attacks and pressing early. Both teams put forward a high intensity game but ELAC took over while remaining focused on defense. The Huskies remained a force holding Mt. SAC at bay after the hat trick.

It was a Husky team effort and Navarro’s gutsy attacks that weathered the storm with a comeback for the ages.

Mt. SAC took 20 shots, 12 on goal, to 12 for ELAC, who had eight on goal. ELAC sophomore goalkeeper Adriana Huerta (South East HS) had nine saves. Mt. SAC sophomore goalkeeper Jacqueline Botello had five saves.

No official information was reported on the times each goal was scored. This information will be updated if it becomes available.

Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index or on Facebook at ELAC Huskies Athletics (@elachuskiesathletics).

story submitted by Tadzio Garcia