Freshman Justice Rodriguez scored a pair of first-half goals and added an assist to the set the tone early in a 3-1 Taft College win at College of the Desert on Tuesday. The non-conference victory snapped a three-match winless streak and improved the Cougars to 3-3-2 overall this season.
Taft controlled the tempo and dominated on the offensive end of the field. The Cougars outshot Desert by a 24-11 margin, including 16-4 in the first half.
Rodriguez unloaded on the Roadrunners as she rattled off nine shots in the contest. In the 16th minute, she took a pass from Carla Salazar and beat COD goalkeeper Marqisha Zamudio-Ontiveros with a shot to the lower left corner to get Taft on the board.
Rodriguez added to the first-half lead with her goal in the 27th minute. Kaitlin Dansie fed Rodriguez for the assist, setting up Rodriguez' goal to the lower right corner.
Midway through the second half, the Cougars put the game away thanks to Juliet Garcia's goal in the 75th minute off the assist from Rodriguez.
COD's (2-4) April Contreras scored the Roadrunners' lone goal in the 76th minute.
Taft keeper Vanessa Casas put together a good effort, needing to make just three saves for the win.
The Cougars return to action on Friday (Sep. 27) at 6 p.m. when they host Victor Valley College in a non-conference game.