Ventura scored in the 77th and 87th minutes on Thursday night to defeat SBCC 3-1 and vault into first place in the WSC North women’s soccer standings.
The Pirates, ranked No. 8 in the state, avenged a 3-0 loss to the Vaqueros three weeks ago and took over first place with records of 13-3-2 and 8-2-1 in conference. Ventura has 25 points, the 12th-ranked Vaqueros (11-5-2, 7-2-2) have 23 and L.A. Pierce (7-1-1) has 22.
Pierce is in the driver’s seat with three games to play while SBCC and Ventura only have one remaining.
After a scoreless first half, AJ Tewes headed in the first goal on a corner kick from Delanie Gavid in the 58th minute. SBCC tied it in the 70th minute when Jackie Holmer scored a rebound goal after a shot by Brandie Harris was blocked.
Gavid broke the 1-1 tie by bending in a corner kick from the right side in the 77th minute and Tewes scored her second goal 10 minutes later on a blast from 47 yards.
“We just didn’t perform at all and I don’t know why,” said SBCC coach John Sisterson. “We talked to the girls about how it was no bigger an occasion than when we played down there and beat them comfortably.
“It’s about attitude and working hard. We just didn’t work hard enough. They won every 50-50 ball, they were more competitive and they took the game to us. We didn’t stick to the system that’s worked so well for us.”
The Vaqueros were outshot 6-2 in the first half and 18-9 for the game. They didn’t get a shot on goal until Holmer found the net in the 70th minute for her first score of the year. Ventura also prevailed in shots on goal, 8-4.
Harris, who leads all Southern Cal players with 26 goals, was tightly checked by the Ventura defense. She failed to score for the first time in eight games.
“We got back in the game (on Holmer’s goal) but we weren’t playing well,” stated Sisterson. “Ventura is a good team and they were connecting passes. You can’t play this game if you’re not connecting passes and you’re now working hard.”
Sisterson said he still expects the Vaqueros to make the Southern Cal playoffs but it will be tough to get a first-round home game.
After a bye on Tuesday, the Vaqueros will host Hancock in their regular-season finale on Friday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.
