YUMA, Ariz. - Stephanie Vazquez scored the lone goal of the game in the 77th minute as Cochise College defeated #2 Arizona Western 1-0 in the Region 1 Final at Matador Field Saturday Night. Arizona Western outshot Cochise College 11-3 on the night but couldn't get the ball past goalkeeper Marissa Tamayo. The Lady Matadors also had two shots hit the goal cross bar and another of a goal post. It was a night where the ball just didn't boince Arizona Western's way.

"For us it doesn't change anything, I'm very proud of the group," Arizona Western head coach Victor Verdugo said. "We had a lot of opportunities but the ball didn't go in today. I told my group, you learn a lot more from losing and I think now this is going to build character and prepare us. At the end of the day, the objective is still to win a national title. We'll get an at-large bid and now we haev two weeks to focus and move on."

For Cochose College, it caps off an incredible run in the Region 1 playoffs. On Wednesday they knocked off #12 Eastern Arizona in a penalty kick shootout, then defeated #2 Arizona Western to claim the Region 1 title. The Apaches will next head to Snow College next weekend for the District final. Stephanie Vazquez was named the Region 1 MVP. 

As for Arizona Western, the season is not lost. The #2 nationally ranked Lady Matadors are expected to recieve an at-large bid into the national tournament which will be held at the Advance Soccer Complex in Enid, Oklahoma, November 16th through the 22nd.

"This will give us time to realize we have to be lethal in the final 30 minutes," Verdugo said. "I'm very proud of this group and again, we still have an opportunity. We'll apply for the national tournament, get an at-large bid, we've worked for that. We've been undefeated for a couple years now, you gotta cry a little bit to smile later."