The Corsairs Start Western State Conference Play With A Victory
The Santa Monica College women’s soccer team played the Bakersfield College Renegades at home on Tuesday, Oct. 1. In addition to opening conference play, the Corsairs recognized Breast Cancer Awareness month with each player wearing a pink bow. “It is October 1 which signifies Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the color pink correlates with Breast Cancer Awareness,” Corsairs’ center midfielder Madeleine Alban said. “We thought we would show our love and support for this month in this kind of awareness by wearing these bows.”
With great offense and team coordination already at work early in the match, the Corsairs’ defender Ariana Maldonado earned a corner kick. However, the kick was blocked by Renegades’ goalkeeper Mercedes Ramirez.
Ramirez had impressive defense, blocking shot attempts made by Corsairs’ forwards Zuleyka Ortiz and Valeria Romo. The Corsairs didn’t let up, keeping possession on their side for the beginning of the first half. In the 21st minute, Corsairs’ midfielder Karla Torres scored the first and only goal of the night.
The Renegades attempted to come back with a corner kick by defender Brooklynn Tucker, but it was defended by the Corsairs. The Renegades started to step up their offense by obtaining a foul on Corsairs’ center-midfielder Mia Shoua by forward Mayson Saffouri. Renegades’ forward Giselle Cardenas attempted a shot, but it was blocked by Maldonado.
The Corsairs regained possession, with two final shot attempts made by forward Alinna Savaterre, one of which was blocked by Ramirez. The other went out of bounds as the first half ended with the Corsairs leading 1-0.
Corsairs’ forward, Jacky Hernandez, started the second half passing the ball into the center field to the opponent's side. Hernandez passed to midfielder Jacibe Martinez who cleared the ball closer to the Renegades.
As the ball was thrown into play and passed around, Torres attempted to score another goal, but the shot went wide. Afterwards, the Corsairs and Renegades continued to counterattack each other until Corsairs’ goalie Jacinda Hevesy-Rodriguez cleared the ball out-of-bounds.
However, a collision broke out between Renegades’ midfielder and defender Emily Vincent and Corsairs’ defender Carmen Talavera. This led to Vincent getting subbed out, and replaced by midfielder Melody Christian. As the Corsairs successfully executed a one-two pass, Corsairs’ forward Alinna Savaterre obtained a yellow card. Afterwards, the Corsairs gained a free kick, while the Renegades obtained a yellow card as a team. The game ended with Corsairs defeating Renegades 1-0.
“I think it went really well. We play really well together. We were a cohesive team. We built out from the back,” Hevesy-Rodriguez said. “We were able to circulate back and forth and switch a lot. Also, we skip over them. We just played really well as a team. I am really proud of us.”
“We also had a shutout. 1-0. So, we did not get any goals in, which is really important,” Alban said. “I think we had a great game. It was really intense. We definitely could have got more goals in.”
“The game went well. I think it was a good game to start off this season. Although, you know, us as a team, we still hold high expectations. I think the thing we are hoping to find throughout the season is to make more goals,” Corsairs’ Assistant Coach Yosemite Cruz said. “What we know we are capable of doing but otherwise this was a really good game. This was a really good test of what is coming ahead of us. I think the girls are getting a good understanding of where we got to go and where we got to be to really succeed in our season this year.”
The next game is on Friday, Oct. 4, against the West Los Angeles Wildcats, an away game at 4 p.m. For more information, the link to the SMC women’s soccer game schedule is here.