Jessica Domenichelli showed her prowess last year with a school-record 25 goals for the SBCC women’s soccer squad. And her coach, John Sisterson, says there’s no reason to think she won’t put up big numbers again.
“She looks even stronger,” said Sisterson, who has a 74-28-27 record in six seasons. “She‘s been working out in the gym and she should be a big scorer this year. She looks sharp, fit and strong.”
SBCC opens the season on Tuesday with a 4 p.m. game at Sequoias. The home opener is Tuesday, Sept. 6 vs. Taft at 2 p.m. The Vaqueros were 8-1-1 in La Playa Stadium last year.
Domenichelli is one of 11 returning players, including eight starters, from a team that went 16-4-2 and was ranked No. 6 in Southern California. The Vaqueros took second in the WSC North with a 9-2-1 record.
They reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to WSC champion Ventura.
Domenichelli, who scored four goals in two different games last year, was a first-team All-WSC choice along with returning defenders Morgan Crumpley and Sara Tomas. Other starters who are back include Kate Earle, Alison Raack, goalie Cheyenne Rodriguez, Jenna Rubin and Brittany Brennhofer. Hannah Zech is also expected to see some time in the goal.
The top newcomers are midfielder Katie Voss, who led San Francisco State in scoring two years ago, Josefin Wallberg of Sweden, Natalie Powell, Regina Petrella and Santa Barbara High products Debbie Arreola and Sylvia Ibarra.
“Katie is an attacking midfielder who strikes the ball very well,” said Sisterson. “Josefin is a good athlete and a very good technical player.”
The Vaqueros were No. 4 in the state with 86 goals last year and boasted the best defense in the WSC North, allowing 20 goals. They’ve finished second in the WSC in three of the last six years but have never won a title.
“It’s not because we haven’t had good teams, we’ve just been unlucky,” said Sisterson. “I’m looking for big things from this group and we’d love to win a Western State Conference championship.”
