First Win Over Mesa in Over 21 Years

San Diego City acheived something on Tuesday that it hasn't been able to in over 21 years, which is defeat Mesa. The Knights finally got a 2-1 victory over their PCAC rivals with Alisson Tavarez scoring the game-winner in the 60th minute to end their longest drought against a conference opponent.

The Knights had lost 36 consecutive games to Mesa from 2004 until Nov. 10, 2021, when the City snapped that streak by earning a 1-1 draw. Mesa then started a new 7-game win streak that lasted from 2022 until Tuesday when the Knights found glory over the Olympians.

Recorded history only goes as far back as 2004 so the victory is the first for the Knights in at least 45 contests against Mesa.

The Knights got off to a great start in Tuesday's game with Maya Romero scoring the first goal of the game in the 10th minute. After a foul, she fired a free kick from 30 yards that Mesa's goalkeeper could not handle and bounced in past the goal line to give City a quick 1-0 lead. 

Mesa outshot the Knights 6-5 in the first half with three of those being on target, but City goalkeeper Ximena Flores saved all three to help keep the lead going into halftime. 

It didn't take very long for Mesa to find the equalizer in the second half as Azucena Irianda goal in the 50th minute on a shot from the right side. 

The Knights answered back 10 minutes later when Hailey Zinga dribbled down the right side and sent a cross to Tavarez who beat Mesa's keeper with a one-timer that gave City the lead for good. 

San Diego City's defense held strong in the final 30 minutes with the help of Flores who stopped five second-half shots and tallied eight saves on the day.

It was the Knights second straight win as they will look to carry the momentum of this historical win over to the final four games of the PCAC season. 

They play the next three on the road starting with a 1 p.m. game at MiraCosta on Monday, Nov. 3.