Cochise Advances to Region I Championship After PK Thriller at Eastern Arizona

THATCHER, Ariz. (Oct. 29, 2025) — In one of the most dramatic matches in recent program history, the Cochise College women's soccer team is moving on to the NJCAA Region I Championship after defeating Eastern Arizona College in penalty kicks, 5–4, on Wednesday night at John Mickelson Field.

After 90 minutes of regulation and two overtime periods ended in a 0-0 stalemate, the semifinal came down to penalty kicks. Both teams converted their opening attempts, but the momentum shifted when Cochise sophomore goalkeeper Julia Vigorito delivered a diving save in the third round, preserving the advantage for the Apaches.

With the score at 4–4 in the final round, sophomore forward Diana Taddei stepped to the spot. Calm and clinical, Taddei buried the deciding kick into the lower right corner, sealing the victory and sending Cochise into the Region I title match.

The win is especially meaningful given the competitive history between the two teams. Cochise and Eastern Arizona met twice during the regular season — a 2–0 EAC win on Sept. 6 in Thatcher and a 0–0 draw in Douglas on Sept. 30, a defensive battle that foreshadowed Wednesday night's result.

Region I Championship Set: Cochise vs. No. 1 Arizona Western

With the semifinal win, Cochise advances to face No. 1 seed Arizona Western College on Saturday, November 1, at 6:00 p.m. MST in Yuma.

The championship match will be a rematch of two tight regular-season meetings:

• Sept. 20 in Douglas: Cochise scored the first goal AWC allowed all season — a 40-yard strike from captain Stephanie Vazquez-Ceron — but fell 2–1.

• Oct. 14 in Yuma: AWC won 5–0, but Cochise nearly equalized early when a shot hit the crossbar and another missed on a penalty attempt.

Arizona Western enters the final as one of the top-ranked teams in the NJCAA, while Cochise arrives with momentum, having allowed just one regulation goal in its last three matches.

Where to Watch

Fans unable to travel to Yuma can watch the Region I Championship live online at:
www.awcmatadors.com (AWC Athletics Livestream)

Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. MST, Saturday, November 1 at Matador Soccer Field.

Coach Rangel on the Win

"Our team fought with heart for 110 minutes," said head coach Santos Rangel. "Julia's save was massive, and Diana stepping up to win it shows the confidence this group has built. We earned another chance, and we're excited for Saturday."

Cochise now stands just 90 minutes — or more — from claiming the Region I title and continuing a memorable postseason run.