The North Lake Blazers and the Brookhaven Bears went head-to-head in a hard-fought match at North Lake on Sept. 12. Despite a resilient defensive performance, the Blazers couldn’t find an equalizer after conceding a late goal.

The decisive moment came late in the second half when Brookhaven’s Amanda Rocha converted a penalty kick in the 86th minute. Rocha’s strike turned out to be the only goal of the match.

North Lake’s only offensive highlight came from team member Jasmine Perez, who registered the team’s lone shot on target. Perez also picked up a yellow card in the 85th minute, one minute before Brookhaven’s breakthrough. Brookhaven controlled the tempo of the game, outshooting North Lake 12–1 and winning four corner kicks compared to none for the Blazers.

For Head Coach Adrian Gonzalez, the loss was a reminder of how critical conference fixtures are to the team’s season goals.

“Conference games are the ones that count toward winning the championship. Every result matters and that’s why we push ourselves to be prepared for these moments,” he said.

While the result was disappointing, North Lake showed resilience against a well-organized Brookhaven side. With a roster made up almost entirely of freshmen, a squad that features more than 20 first-year players, the Blazers are in a building year where every match provides valuable experience.

A handful of returning sophomores provide leadership, but much of the lineup is gaining its first taste of college competition. Coach Gonzalez believes that these early challenges will pay off later in the season as the young Blazers continue to grow in confidence and chemistry throughout conference play.