Season Recap: Men's Soccer
The Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs ended their season with a 15-4-5 overall record, and in second place in the Western State Conference (WSC) Northern Division with a 7-2-1 record.
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Javier Mendoza (2), Roey Kivity (10), Sebastian Alvarez Luna (6), and Antelope Valley College Marauders' Francisco Brasiliano (center) and Alexander Brjestovsky (3) during the men's soccer match on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Taj Winnard after the men's soccer match against the Antelope Valley College Marauders was called as a 1-1 tie on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Men's Soccer Head Coach Tim Pierce during the men's soccer match against the Antelope Valley College Marauders on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Antelope Valley College Marauders' Alexander Brjestovsky (center) and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Sebastian Alvarez Luna (left) and Jose Urdiano (right) during the men's soccer match on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Antelope Valley College Marauders' Francisco Brasiliano, Chris Romero, Diego Chavez Torres, and Chance Shearer, and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jose Urdiano (blue) during the men's soccer match on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Sebastian Alvarez Luna and Taj Winnard during the men's soccer match against the Antelope Valley College Marauders on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Legs in action during the men's soccer match between the Antelope Valley College Marauders and the Santa Monica College Corsairs on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Kyler Sorber and Roey Kivity, and Antelope Valley College Marauders' Victor Jimenez during the men's soccer match on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Kyler Sorber during the men's soccer match against the Antelope Valley College Marauders on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Roey Kivity scores a goal against the Antelope Valley Marauders, getting the ball past Sergio Garcia (27) and goalie Brian Rios Martinez during the men's soccer match on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor (front) and Antelope Valley College Marauders' Sergio Garcia during the men's soccer match on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jaime Toledo during the men's soccer match against the Antelope Valley College Marauders on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Antelope Valley College Marauders' Makuochukwu Ene and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jason Moreno during the men's soccer match on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Antelope Valley College Marauders' Christian Gomez and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor during the men's soccer match on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Benjamin Zygman during the men's soccer match against the Antelope Valley College Marauders on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs tied 1-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor (right) and Glendale Community College Vaqueros' Malkoon Malkoon (left) during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
The men's soccer match between the Santa Monica College Corsairs and the Glendale Community College Vaqueros at on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs Men's Soccer Head Coach Tim Pierce during the match against the Glendale Community College Vaqueros on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Roey Kivity (center) defends Taj Winnard (left) from Jairo Hernandez (right), of the Glendale Community College Vaqueros, during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Alexander Lalor (left) scores the first goal of the men's soccer game for the Santa Monica College Corsairs against the Glendale Community College Vaqueros on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Jaime Toledo, Elvis Santiago, Alexander Lalor, and Taj Winnard, of the Santa Monica College Corsairs, celegrate Lalor's goal during the men's soccer match against the Glendale Community College Vaqueros on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs Menes Jahra and Glendale Community College Vaqueros' Vincente Sasnchez during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Sebastian Alvarez Luna (6), Benjamin Zygman (18), and Marcus Hevesy-Rodriguez (20, right), of the Santa Monica College Corsairs, surround Mykhailo Hrabynskyi (center), of the Glendale Community College Vaqueros, during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor takes a shot at the goal, only to be blocked by Moorpark College Raiders Goalie Jonathan Rivera, during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Roey Kivity after scoring the second goal of the men's soccer match against the Glendale Community College Vaqueros on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jason Moreno during the soccer match against the Moorpark College Raiders on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Sebastian Alvarez Luna and Kyler Sorber (right), of the Santa Monica College Corsairs, steal the ball from Jairo Hernandez, of the Glendale Community College Vaqueros during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Marcus Hevesy-Rodriguez and Moorpark College Raiders' Luke Holwager during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Taj Winnard after his goal for the Santa Monica College Corsairs during the men's soccer match against the Glendale Community College Vaqueros on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Sebastian Alvarez Luna and Moorpark College Raiders' Alex Cruz during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Glendale Community College Vaqueros' Malkoon Malkoon and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Benjamin Zygman during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Taj Winnard during the men's soccer match against the Moorpark College Raiders on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor stops Glendale Community College Vaqueros' Abraham Rivera during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Marcus Hevesy-Rodriguez, Alexander Lalor, and Jason Moreno share congratulations after the Corsairs' first goal of the men's soccer match against the Moorpark College Raiders on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Darren Lewis (right), of the Santa Monica College Corsairs, blocks Glendale Community College Vaqueros' Malkoon Malkoon during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jose Urdiano kicks the ball to another scoring goal for the Corsairs during the men's soccer match against the Moorpark College Raiders on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' David Rodriguez and Adam Abou-Hamad (right) and Glendale Community College Vaqueros' Mykhailo Hrabynskyi (center) during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Students from Ed Mangus' Introduction to Photography class visit the stadium to photograph the men's soccer match between the Santa Monica College Corsairs and the Moorpark College Raiders on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Taj Winnard during the men's soccer match against the Moorpark College Raiders on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Moorpark College Raiders' Luka Lazar and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jose Urdiano during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Roey Kivity (right) kicks the ball past Moorpark College Raiders' Ethan Strief (left) during the men's soccer match on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
The men's soccer match between the Santa Monica College Corsairs, with Head Coach Tim Pierce (second from left), and the Moorpark College Raiders on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Moorpark College Raiders' Ethan Strief and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Javier Mendoza during the men's soccer match on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Roey Kivity during the men's soccer match against the Moorpark College Raiders on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor (center) and Moorpark College Raiders' Christian Bower (left) and Diego Herrera (right) during the men's soccer match on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Moorpark College Raiders' Christian Bower and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Kyler Sorber during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Kyler Sorber (left), Sebastian Alvarez Luna (6), Axel Green (right), and Moorpark College Raiders' Christian Bower during the men's soccer match on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Members of the Santa Monica College Corsairs' Men's Soccer Team share congratulations with Ryan Maher (tallest) during the men's soccer match against the Moorpark College Raiders on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor, Taj Winnard, and Kyler Sorber celebrate Winnard's goal against the Moorpark College Raiders during the men's soccer match on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Moorpark College Raiders' Goalie Todd Crabtree fails to block the shot by Santa Monica College Corsairs' Ryan Maher (23) during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor during the men's soccer match on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor and Darren Lewis, and Moorpark College Raiders' Chris Aguilar during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 4-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs Men's Soccer Associate Head Coach Rick Minars (center) talks to the team between periods during the men's soccer match against the Moorpark College Raiders on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Allan Hancock College Bulldogs' Hector Villa, Eric Diaz, and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Ryan Maher and Benjamin Zygman during the men's soccer match against the Moorpark College Raiders on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Kyler Sorber and Allan Hancock College Bulldogs' Braden Johnson during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jose Urdiano and Moorpark College Raiders Luka Lazar during the men's soccer match on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor during the men's soccer match against the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Axel Green (left), Kyler Sorber (right), and Moorpark College Raiders' Alex Cruz during the men's soccer match on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor headbutts the ball during the men's soccer match against the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jose Urdiano and Moorpark College Raiders' Bagdick Bagdasaryan (4), Arjun Kaushal (12), and Marcel Kamberian (13) during the men's soccer match on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Taj Winnard and Allan Hancock College Bulldogs' Eric Diaz during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Marcus Hevesy-Rodriguez and Moorpark College Raiders' Cytres Vives during the men's soccer match on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Taj Winnard prepares for a corner kick during the men's soccer match against the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jose Arias (left), Roey Kivity (10), and Moorpark College Raiders Cytres Vives (center left) and Jonathan Rivera (29) during the men's soccer match on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Benjamin Zygman during the men's soccer match against the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jason Moreno loses the ball to Moorpark College Raiders' Jonathan Rivera (29) and Jose Ricardo Chinchilla (9) during the men's soccer match on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Field Hockey Stadium in Moorpark, Calif. The Corsairs won 2-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Adam Abou-Hamad (center) and Allan Hancock College Bulldogs' Eric Diaz (left) and Oscar Monroy (right) during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs Men's Soccer Head Coach Tim Pierce during the men's soccer match against the Norco College Mustangs on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Marcus Hevesy-Rodriguez and Allan Hancock College Bulldogs' Sean Soltan during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Norco College Mustangs' Emmanuel Apreza and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jose Urdiano during the men's soccer match on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Javier Mendoza (2) and Jason Moreno (12) celebrate Mendoza's goal against the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jose Urdiano (right) kicks the ball past Norco College Mustangs' Andrew Montes (left) during the men's soccer match on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jason Moreno (left), Ryan Maher (right), and Allan Hancock College Bulldogs' Eric Diaz (center) during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Norco College Mustangs' Efren Nunez-Dominguez and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jason Moreno during the men's soccer match on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs Men's Soccer Associate Head Coach Rick Minars (right) congratulates Kyler Sorber (center) for his goal against the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Marcus Hevesy-Rodriguez (top) and Norco College Mustangs' Andrew Montes (bottom) attempt to head the ball during the men's soccer match on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Connor Gilmore during the men's soccer match against the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Taj Winnard during the men's soccer match against the Norco College Mustangs on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Roey Kivity during the men's soccer match against the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Norco College Mustangs' Cedrick Alexander (right) kicks the ball past Santa Monica College Corsairs Alexander Lalor (center) and Taj Winnard (left) during the men's soccer match on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Darren Lewis turns toward the field after his goal against the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs during the men's soccer match on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 7-1. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Taj Winnard and Norco College Mustangs' Yahir Hernandez during the men's soccer match on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Javier Mendoza and Norco College Mustangs' Amir Ghaffari during the men's soccer match on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Taj Winnard (right) and Norco College Mustangs' Sohei Matsumori (left) during the men's soccer match on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Javier Mendoza (right) attempts to kick the ball past Norco College Mustangs' goalie Martin Fiala (left) during the men's soccer match on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Norco College Mustangs' Emmanuel Apreza, Yahir Hernandez, and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Alexander Lalor during the men's soccer match on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Connor Gilmore during the men's soccer match against the Norco College Mustangs on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs' Kyler Sorber during the men's soccer match against the Norco College Mustangs on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
Norco College Mustangs' Aidan Olufson, Dominic Kienzle, and Santa Monica College Corsairs' Axel Green during the men's soccer match on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)
The Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs ended their season with a 15-4-5 overall record, and in second place in the Western State Conference (WSC) Northern Division with a 7-2-1 record. Their record set them up to be the No. 8 seeded team in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern California Regional Playoffs.
After defeating the No. 9 seeded Norco College 1-0 in the second round of playoffs, the Corsairs went on to face the No. 1 seeded team, Cerritos College, on Tuesday, Nov. 22. They narrowly lost 2-1 and that would close out the season for the Corsairs.
Head coach Tim Pierce reflected on the team's season. Pierce called it a “success and a disappointment all in one,” as there were both highlights and lowlights throughout the season. One highlight Pierce mentioned was an overnight trip to Santa Barbara for a game that allowed the team ample opportunity for bonding. One lowlight was coming in at second place in the conference just behind Oxnard College, the eventual State Champions.
“We were right in there with the best teams, but we obviously fell a little short there,” Pierce said.
Pierce touched up the lessons learned throughout the season for the Corsairs, one of which was staying motivated each and every game, no matter the opponent. Another lesson mentioned was understanding that winning isn’t everything as character can be exposed more through losses than wins and that can lead to not enjoying the game.
“A couple of those losses were actually good because you lose and think about all the things you put into that, and you have to put your best foot forward every single time, treat each other well, work really hard, take care of your responsibilities, all those things, that will translate into the best performance – it might not translate into winning every time because winning takes many factors, a little bit of luck,” Pierce said.
Pierce hopes soccer can keep being beneficial academically to the players as they potentially move on to play for a four-year university.
“Pushing these guys on and making sure that soccer is a way to get them focused on life and being better – being a better person, better students, those types of things. That’s ultimately the most important thing,” Pierce said.
Pierce has one main goal for next season, and that’s to play even better next season.
“I think the obvious next step is to try to keep continuing to try to win conferences and ultimately make it to the final four,” Pierce said.