Corsairs Playoff Run Comes To An End

Santa Monica College Corsairs players sit in shock as an El Camino College player runs in frame after the Corsairs goalie missed the final shoot out attempt on Nov. 18, 2021 at Santa Monica College. The Corsairs would take the 5-4 loss to end their playoff run and close out the sesason. (Jon Putman | The Corsair)

Freshman Charlie Kayem sets the ball for a penalty kick in OT2. Santa Monica College played against El Camino College in a California Community College Women's Soccer Southern California Regional Play-In game on November 18, 2021. The game was a 1-1 tie after overtime and the Warriors won 5-4 on penalty kicks. (Maxim Elramsisy | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs sophomore Goalie Yosemite Cruz (30) screams a few words of encouragement to teammates before their regional playoff game against El Camino College on Nov. 18, 2021 at Santa Monica College. (Jon Putman | The Corsair)

#10, Eden Bechnainou focused on the ball while dribbling down the field. The Corsair | Blake Thornton

#3, Monica Moya jumping into defender to headbutt the ball

Sophie Doumitt making a great stop as the ball comes flying at her. The Corsair | Blake Thornton

Ashley Silva focused during pregame before the matchup against El Camino College. The Corsair | Blake Thornton

Freshman Alexia Mallahi(9) takes a penalty kick in OT2 Santa Monica College played against El Camino College in a California Community College Women's Soccer Southern California Regional Play-In game on November 18, 2021. The game was a 1-1 tie after overtime and the Warriors won 5-4 on penalty kicks. (Maxim Elramsisy | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs sophomore goalie Yosemite Cruz (30) misses on the final shoot out attempt from El Camino College giving the Corsairs the loss on Nov. 18, 2021 at Santa Monica College. (Jon Putman | The Corsair)

Freshman goalkeeper McKenna Morey celebrates with her teammates after she shots the game winning penalty for the El Camino College Warriors. Santa Monica College played against El Camino College in a California Community College Women's Soccer Southern California Regional Play-In game on November 18, 2021. The game was a 1-1 tie after overtime and the Warriors won 5-4 on penalty kicks. (Maxim Elramsisy | The Corsair)

Freshman goalkeeper Yosemite Cruz(30) reacts after loosing on penalty kicks as Eden Bechnainou runs to herr. Santa Monica College played against El Camino College in a California Community College Women's Soccer Southern California Regional Play-In game on November 18, 2021. The game was a 1-1 tie after overtime and the Warriors won 5-4 on penalty kicks. (Maxim Elramsisy | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs sophomore goalie Yosemite Cruz (30) receives some words of encouragment from the assistant coach after missing the final shot giving the Corsairs their final loss of the sesaon on Nov. 18, 2021 at Santa Monica College. (Jon Putman | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs Women's Soccer Team poses for a picture before their regional playoff game against El Camino College on Nov. 18, 2021, at Santa Monica College. (Jon Putman | The Corsair)

The Santa Monica College (SMC) Women’s Soccer team faced El Camino College in their first playoff game. A play-in game with a ticket to the next round was on the line.

A very competitive fixture, the game went without any goals scored for the first 90 minutes. The tie was broken in the in the 103rd minute with a goal from El Camino College Angelica Taylor.  The score was answered just minutes later by Ali Alban.  The 1-1 tie held through the second overtime half prompting a penalty kick shootout.  The shootout was played out evenly as well forcing a goalkeeper faceoff with at 4-4.  El Camino freshman goalkeeper McKenna Morey recorded 14 saves and scored the game winning penalty kick.

SMC Head Coach Aaron Benditson said after the game, “We did a really good job of preparing for our opponent and look, when you take it all the way into [penalty kicks] anything can happen.”  Looking toward the future, Benditson said, “We’re super young, we only have 3 sophomores… We have a big bright future to build upon.  We’re going to be recruiting heavily in the offseason and we want to continue to be a team that competes for championships and fights, and gets opportunities to play in games like this.”