In a match determining first place of the WSC Southern Conference, the Pierce College women’s soccer team defeated Santa Barbara City College, 3-2, winning their sixth straight match.
Playing host to Santa Barbara City College on Tuesday Oct. 29, both teams entered the game with a record of 9-3-2. Tied for first place in their conference, Pierce (5-0-1) and Santa Barbara City College (5-0-2), winner would get sole position of first place.
Pierce sophomore Shawnie Moore believed coming into the game the team felt “very anxious.”
“Very ready for the game because we worked so hard and we knew that we had to win this and we did so that’s exciting,” Moore said.
Pierce got off to a quick start, scoring a goal in the second minute of the match. Sophomore Shawnie Moore got the goal on an assist from freshman forward Michelle Somers.
Four minutes later in the sixth minute of the game, freshman Karina Ramirez scored on a free kick, with the distance being just passed midfield.
Shawnie Moore scored once again in an assist from Jacqueline Hilario, capping a three goal run in the first eight minutes.
Coming into the match against Santa Barbara, Pierce Coach Adolfo Perez said that his team felt “confident.”
“We got the incredible start,” coach Perez said. “We scored three goals in the first eight minutes on one of the best teams in the state. That was like the best start ever.”
Following their third goal, Pierce seemed to lose their intensity for the remainder of the first half. This proved true when Santa Barbara sophomore Briana Lopez scored in the 28 minute on a bicycle kick. Santa Barbara then followed up with a second goal courtesy of sophomore Brandie Harris, sending the game into halftime 3-2.
The second half of the game started slow, picking up in the 52 minute when Pierce freshman Karina Ramirez was given a yellow card. Ramirez got tangled with Santa Barbara freshman defender Mackenzie Rios, knocking Ramirez to the ground. Ramirez then retaliated by getting up and kicking the ball at Rios.
Talking about her yellow card, Pierce’s Karina Ramirez said that she felt Santa Barbara’s
Mackenzie Rios was “out to get me all game.”
“I let it get to me,” Ramirez said. “I deserve the yellow but still she should have got a yellow for the foul too.”
As the second half preceded, fouls were a common theme. Santa Barbara received a yellow card in the 62 minute, given to Briana Lopez. Sophomore Heather Rivera of Santa Barbara was then given a yellow card in the 75 minute for grabbing Pierce’s Michelle Somers from behind, pulling her down.
Pierce would receive their second yellow card of the game in the 83 minute, given to Sophomore Melissa Galmez. In the 90 minute, Santa Barbara’s Briana Lopez was given a red card and forced to exit the game.
Santa Barbara head coach John Sisterson said he doesn’t think his team played well and had they played better they would have “won the game.”
“We came back from 3-0 down and didn’t perform in the first half,” Sisterson said. “Had we played as we can play it would have been a different result.”
The Pierce soccer team’s next game will be at home on Friday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. when they host visiting Allan Hancock College.
