Grimaldo succeeds at next level

Mammoth’s own Sandy Grimaldo had a goal and an assist in her first collegiate soccer game with the Santa Barbara City College Vaqueros on Tuesday, Aug. 28, guiding SBCC to a 2-0 shutout at L.A. Harbor in Wilmington. Grimaldo, a freshman from Mammoth High, was last year’s Desert Mountain League’s MVP. She scored in minute 18 by chipping the ball over the keeper after taking a pass from Sarah Atmajoana.

Later that same week, on Aug. 30, In the 67th minute, Grimaldo made a nice back-heel move to elude a defender, then set up Justina Silva for a second goal, in SBCC’s 2-0 win over Rio Hondo.

On Saturday, Sept. 1, Grimaldo was in great form again. Freshman forward Brandie Harris found the net for the third straight game and SBCC recorded a shutout for the third time in five days, as the Vaqueros blanked West Valley of Saratoga 3-0 in the Nike Soccer Classic at Ventura College. Alexandra Abbott opened the scoring in minute 35 with a 25-yard goal on an assist from Sandy Grimaldo. One minute later, Grimaldo eluded the defense with a back-heel dribble and fed Harris, who fired the ball to the back post.

Another 4-0 shutout win against Taft College on Tuesday brought SBCC’s record to 4-0. Goalie Brianna Robinson hasn’t allowed a score in 360 minutes of play. Grimaldo leads the Vaqueros with participation in six points in three games.