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Arizona Western's fall teams have lost one game out of 52

Volleyball hasn't lost. Women's soccer is No. 1 in the country. Men's soccer hasn't lost either. All three Arizona Western fall teams have locked up conference titles, and the playoffs come home to Yuma next week.

Dan Bustard

Founder & Publisher

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Vintage print illustration of a volleyball and soccer ball beside a net and field.
AI-generated illustration representing Arizona Western's fall volleyball and soccer teams; it does not show actual athletes or a specific match. Credit: Yuma Informed / AI-generated illustration
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Update, Oct. 29, 2026: The men are back in the Region I final. Arizona Western beat Mohave 2-1 at Matador Field on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Taikan Naito scored in the 4th minute and Sayuki Miyatani added one in the 16th, assisted by Godwin Anim, before Mohave's Alan Salgado pulled one back in the 61st, KYMA reported. KYMA reports that the Matadors will face Eastern Arizona in the final. AWC's official schedule confirms Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. at Matador Field, although it still lists the opponent as TBD. The women beat Cochise 1-0 on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and will host the Region I final at Matador Field at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, according to AWC's official schedule. The opponent is still listed as TBD. The region awards are in, too. On the men's side, forward Tyrese Agbontaen was named Region I Player of the Year, and seven Matadors made the all-region teams. The women, still No. 1 in the NJCAA poll, swept the top honors: midfielder Ana Sofia Clavijo was Player of the Year, Victoria Yuna was Goalkeeper of the Year, and Victor Verdugo was Coach of the Year for the second straight season, the Yuma Sun reported. Seven women made all-region teams as well.

Here's a stat that doesn't come along often. Across volleyball, women's soccer and men's soccer, Arizona Western College's fall teams have played 52 games this season. They've lost one.

The combined record is 46-1-5. All three teams clinched ACCAC regular-season championships against Eastern Arizona College, and all three are the top seeds in Region I. And the next round of playoff soccer comes to Yuma.

Volleyball: 22-0

Coach Lorayne Chandler's team is still perfect. It clinched the conference title at Eastern Arizona in Thatcher, after dropping the first set. Chandler noted that "Eastern is always a tough place to play."

The Matadors are ranked No. 14 in the NJCAA Division I poll, according to KYMA, the program's highest ranking since 2016 and its highest under Chandler. She earned her 200th career win earlier this month. Maria Maeda was named NJCAA Division I Player of the Week. Captain Noemi Marinho missed part of the season and is back, and freshman Yebin Ban has taken on a bigger role.

Asked what still needs work at 22-0, Chandler gave a one-word answer: "Consistency."

Women's soccer: No. 1 in the country

The women's team (13-1-3) is ranked No. 1 in NJCAA Division I, a first in program history. It slipped to No. 2 for a week, then got the top spot back.

The signature result came at home: a 2-1 win over No. 3 Eastern Arizona, with goals from Riko Horie and Kanon Ozaki, who scored the winner before halftime. KYMA reports it was the program's first win while ranked No. 1. Coach Victor Verdugo picked up his 50th win this season.

There's unfinished business here. AWC finished national runner-up in 2024, losing in overtime, and again in 2025, losing on penalty kicks. Two straight title games, two straight heartbreaks. That's the backdrop for this year's No. 1 ranking.

Men's soccer: 11-0-2

The men clinched their title with a 1-1 draw against Eastern Arizona at Matador Field. Tyrese Agbontaen equalized in the 59th minute and goalkeeper Sebastian Belitrandi made late saves to hold it. Coach Kenny Dale reached his 300th career win this season.

Dale had a dry observation about the schedule: "We've hardly won any of them at home." He may get the chance to fix that soon.

Where to watch

  • Volleyball vs. College of Southern Nevada: Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. (sophomore night) and Saturday, Oct. 24, 1 p.m. These are the last regular-season home matches.
  • Region I semifinals at Matador Field:
    • Men's soccer: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.
    • Women's soccer: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.

Junior college sports don't usually draw crowds like the high school rivalries or the big-university games on TV. If there was ever a fall to go see what's happening at Matador Field, this is it.

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