In a top-five NJCAA Division II showdown, the No. 1-ranked Phoenix College Bears came up just short against No. 5 Pima Community College, falling 3–2 on the road Saturday night.

Pima struck first with a penalty kick in the 26th minute and added another goal five minutes later to take a 2–0 lead into halftime.

Phoenix battled back in the second half, showing the resilience that has kept them at the top of the rankings. Alan Garibaldy got the Bears on the board in the 69th minute off an assist from Raul Martinez, and Cruzeiro Cruz followed with the equalizer in the 82nd minute, assisted by Andre Miyazato.

However, Pima's Nathan Flores scored the deciding goal in the 89th minute to hand the Bears their first loss of the season.

Goalkeeper Jan Villegas recorded four saves for Phoenix, while the Bears outshot Pima 12–6 in corner kicks and 7–7 in total shots.

The Bears return home to host Mohave College on October 7 at 7 p.m.