Winning twelve of thirteen Western State Conference titles is a difficult feat to accomplish. So is beating the Santa Barbara City College women’s soccer team at La Playa Stadium.
Ventura College did both on Tuesday, using an 87th-minute score from Joclyn Coney to clinch the conference with a 1-0 victory that was the Vaqueros’ first home loss in two years.
“It was a disappointing result but I think the girls performed very well,” said SBCC coach John Sisterson, whose team now holds a 15-1-5 record at the beach-side venue since 2006.
“It wasn’t a great soccer match,” admitted Ventura coach Steve Hoffman. “But when so much is on the line, the kids play hard.”
Ventura improves to 16-1-3 while the Vaqueros finish off their regular season at 13-2-5. SBCC’s only other loss can also be blamed on the Pirates, another 1-0 setback on Oct. 17.
Ventura, the No. 1 team in California, has one more regular season match on Friday against Cuesta.
Playoffs for both sides begin on Nov. 22.
Before Coney’s game-winning goal for Ventura, the Vaqueros had several chances to go up. Laura Spivack actually scored in the 20th minute but the sideline judge had his red flag up, signaling offsides. Forward Danna Wahlund nearly had another on a breakaway in the second half, but Ventura’s keeper came out to knock away Wahlund’s last touch at the last second.
Ventura’s score came out of nowhere. Coney stole possession at midfield and raced down the right-center of the field all alone.
“The girl outran us,” Sisterson said of the play. “She finished it very well.”
“It was hard to watch,” said SBCC sophomore midfielder Ricky Fein, a Santa Barbara High alum.
Wahlund, who’s last-minute goal last year against Ventura helped snap their streak of 12-straight conference titles, felt the Vaqueros let one get away.
“I can’t even explain it, I can’t put it into words,” she said. “We know we are a better team.”
