Otero College Women's Soccer Faces Narrow Defeat Against Northeastern Junior College

On September 6, 2025, the Otero College Women's Soccer team, known as the Rattlers, faced a tough match against Northeastern Junior College, ultimately falling short with a final score of 4-3 in favor of NJC. The game was held at the Northeastern Junior College under sunny and windy conditions. The first half saw the Rattlers displaying commendable resilience. Julia Marcolongo and Josylynn Rodriguez, both from Otero College, managed to find the net, keeping the game competitive. However, NJC led at halftime with a score of 2-1. The second half was a testament to Otero's fighting spirit as they initially tied the game through a penalty kick. The Rattlers even took a brief lead thanks to another goal by Marcolongo, her second of the match, pushing the score to 3-2. Despite their efforts, NJC's Sevana Thompson and Karla Pacheco each scored, securing the win for NJC with Thompson netting the decisive game-winning goal. Tyara Vazquez, Otero's Sophomore Captain, reflected on the outcome, stating, 'Even though the outcome of the game wasn't what we wanted, we still worked hard and fought together as a team. That is the real prize.' The coach also acknowledged the youth and ongoing development of the team, expressing optimism about making strategic adjustments in defense in the forthcoming games. Otero hopes to rectify their early season form when they host Northwest College on September 12, 2025, at their home grounds in La Junta.