Women's SMC Soccer Beats Ventura 2-1
In a fast-paced physical game, Santa Monica College Women’s Soccer team edges out Ventura 2-1. The Corsairs (6-2-2) played at home against the Ventura College Pirates (3-7-1). The game had few dull moments, and this hard-fought game came down to the final whistle. Both teams seemingly always had the ball in enemy territory, but few goals were scored. Each team’s goalie played lights out and kept the game close. Santa Monica’s Filippa Struxsjo got loose and could not be contained, she fired a shot that ended up in the back of the net. Struxsjo capitalized on this opportunity in the 18th-minute and later said, “I got behind their backline, and scored on one touch.” After the two teams traded possessions back and fourth, Santa Monica benefited from an error by Ventura in the 32nd-minute. A Ventura defensemen accidentally kicked the ball in her team’s net, giving Santa Monica a two-goal lead. Not long after the Pirates would respond, Ventura benefited from a goal by Miranda Vasquez in the 45th minute of the first half. Vasquez was assisted by Eleni Borjon's pass that was placed perfectly over the the Corsairs defense.
At halftime Santa Monica led 2-1, which would eventually become the final score. The Ventura Pirates are now on a four-game losing streak. There was no scoring in the second half, but the game was extremely competitive and physical. A few yellow-cards were handed out, and referees had to control the emotions of both teams. The Pirates kept getting the ball in Santa Monica's territory, but could not finish their possessions with a score. After the game, Struxsjo said “I feel like we were the better team in the first half, in the second half they had a harder press on us, but we maintained our win so it was good.” Santa Monica plays their next game at home on Tuesday, October 3rd against Santa Barbra. The game will start at 2p.m.. When asked how to prepare for this next game, Struxsjo said, “We just have to keep working hard.”