Pima Wins Region 1 Title in Double Overtime
Pima College's women's soccer team beat Phoenix College 2-1 in double overtime to claim its second straight regional championship.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Soccer
Pima College defeated Phoenix College 2-1 in double overtime in the Region 1, Division II/West championship on Wednesday night, with Ava Dagnino scoring the winning goal at 103 minutes. Pima will learn its national tournament selection on Tuesday.
Why it matters
The win extends Pima's run under coach Kendra Veliz, now six regional titles, and sets up a bid for the national tournament in Huntsville, Alabama, from November 15 to 21.
Pima finished the regular season 17-0-2 and posted a 9-0-1 home record, while Phoenix goalkeeper Ariel Luna recorded twelve saves in the match. The national tournament bid is still unannounced as selection is scheduled for Tuesday.
The players
Pima College
Pima College is a community college in Tucson, Arizona, whose women's soccer program has won multiple regional titles under longtime head coach Kendra Veliz.
Kendra Veliz
Kendra Veliz is the head coach of Pima College's women's soccer program, who has guided the team to six regional championships.
The details
Phoenix took a 1-0 lead on a 19th-minute free kick by Alexa Zambrano, before Alyssa Allen equalized in the 32nd minute off a pass from Yajaira Cervantes. Cervantes, who moved positions after Hazel Ramos was injured, was named match MVP, and Pima's Amaya Andrade faced only one shot after the first 20 minutes.
Timeline
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Pima defeats Phoenix 2-1 in double overtime at PCC's West Campus field.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026: National tournament selection to be announced.
November 15-21, 2026: National tournament held in Huntsville, Alabama.
Season Trajectory
Pima's second straight Region 1, Division II/West championship continues a run of sustained success under Kendra Veliz, now her sixth regional title. The result positions the team for a national tournament bid after a 17-0-2 regular season.
If Pima receives a national bid, its players will travel to Huntsville, Alabama, for the tournament from November 15 to 21. Fans planning to follow the team should watch for the Tuesday selection announcement to confirm travel plans.
The takeaway
A regional title in double overtime reflects the depth and resilience needed to advance, and Pima's consistent record under Veliz shows how sustained preparation can translate into postseason opportunities.
What happens next
Pima College's national tournament selection will be announced Tuesday, November 10, 2026, ahead of the national tournament in Huntsville, Alabama, from November 15 to 21.
Further reading
Find more local coverage in Tucson Soccer news.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tucson Sentinel.
