Rachel Roth, Spring 2009 Staff Writer
As the sun set on the Pierce College soccer pit the afternoon of Oct. 7, with the final minutes of the second half ticking down, the women’s soccer team lost their 2-1 lead against Santa Monica College, resulting in a tie game.
Coming off back-to-back shut out games against L.A. Valley College and Citrus College last week, confidence was high going into Tuesday’s match-up for both players and coaches.
“We’ve become a more cohesive team,” said Adolfo Perez, head coach of the women’s soccer program. “We’re more comfortable with each other, more confident with the ball and, most importantly, mentally they think they can win every game,” he added.
For Perez, the season got off to a rocky start. A disappointing run in the Victor Valley Tournament, followed
by a shout-out loss to Moorpark College inspired the coaching staff to make some changes to the line up.
Five players were moved to different positions, which, Perez said, has made the team stronger at midfield, stronger in the back, stronger at forward and stronger defensively.
The game got off to a slow start, with both teams scoreless for the majority of the first half. Jacqueline Dawson defender for SMC scored the first goal of the game at the 31-minute mark. Two minutes later, Pirece defender Emani Steward tied the game.
The second half played out much like the first, with both teams scoreless for over 30 minutes.
Sophomore Amanda Bernal, middle, put Pierce ahead of SMC with 9 minutes left to play.
A personal foul, committed by Bernal four minutes later, allowed SMC to kick the ball in from the corner.
The kick in was made by mid-fielder Xochitl Salgado.
Lauren Klibingat, SMC forward, scored the game-tying point.
“They came in here and they tied us,” said Perez after the game. “It’s frustrating. They never should’ve tied us. We should’ve won 8-1, but that’s how it goes.”
The Brahmas were plagued by mistakes during, going offsides eight times. Each offsides resulted in loss of possession of the ball.
Perez attributed the problem to “not listening very well.”
“We told them a thousand times and obviously it wasn’t working,” said Perez, who plans to run drills in practice to correct the issue.
The match-up with SMC also pitted a coach, Perez, against his former player. SMC head coach, Aaron Benditson used to play for Perez.
“It’s always interesting going up against Adolfo,” Benditson said after the game. “I learned a lot from him. He is a great coach.”
“It is a good result for us to play against the three-time defending Western State Conference champions,” he said. “To be way from home, this is a good result.”
Pierce won 1-0 against Mission College on the road Friday.
“The game was hard for Pierce,” Adolfo said.
Pierce mid-fielder Amanda Bernal received the ball from mid-fielder Rocio Abundez and made a goal.
The victory Friday put the Pierce soccer team at 9-2-3 for the season.
Tuesday’s home game against Bakersfield was postponed because of the poor air quality condition due to the nearby fire.
Amanda Bernal (center) fights off a Santa Monica College defender during the women’s soccer teams 2-2 tie against the Corsairs at home October 7. ()