Emily Kelley / Roundup
The Pierce College Lady Brahma soccer team suffered it’s first loss Friday night on the road against the Ventura College Pirates, 2-1.
“This was the first time we allowed goals,” said Head Coach Adolfo Perez. “We didn’t know how we would react, and I think we reacted well.”
The first of the goals came in the 10th minute by Ventura freshman midfielder Taylor Benton.
The Brahmas fired back with a goal in the 12th minute by freshman forward Erica Vangsness, making the score, 1-1.
The rest of the first half saw high shots on goal by Pierce with a lot of physical play from both teams.
“They were more physical then the other teams that we’ve played so far,” said Vangsness.
Vangsness saw quiet a bit of action after the half with a shot on goal, followed by another goal attempt that sent her rolling over the Ventura goalie.
The Brahmas had their hands full with 6’1″ sophomore midfielder Jazmarae Strozier, one of the leading scorers in the state.
“Our defense did amazing. They really stepped it up,” said Vangsness. “We marked up on her. She only had 2 shots, so we did an awesome job.”
The second half was just as physical as the first with yellow cards-a-plenty.
Last season’s leading scorer, Stephanie Cubias received a yellow card, as did the team’s current second leading scorer, Rachel Kove.
Pirate sophomore Kristi O’Connor received a yellow card for fouling Vangsness, and received a second yellow card later on, expelling her from the game.
“We had an extra player for over 20 minutes,” said Perez. “We should have taken advantage of it and we didn’t.”
“They actually played better when they had a player down. In soccer it happens, because you let your guard down.”
In a very controversial call, Pierce goalie Marissa Graska made a save but fell backwards into the goal, hitting her head on the goal post in the process.
Play was stopped to examine Graska, and after she was thought to be ok, the referees ruled a no goal.
“It never went in. She went in, but the ball never went in,” head referee Luis Gutierrez said after the game.
The Pirate faithful loudly disagreed.
“There are very few hostile environments. Santa Monica was pretty hostile, but the stadium is pretty far where you can’t even hear them,” said Perez. “(But) here they’re close, and they bring people to the games.”
Graska remained in the game, and allowed a rolling goal by sophomore defender Haley Wilson in the 85th minute, solidifying the score, 2-1.
In a last-minute effort to tie the game, the Brahmas forced play into Pirate territory, even pushing Graska up to near the midfield line, but they were unable to score.
Graska, examined further by a trainer after the game, was slated to be taken to a doctor to make sure she hadn’t gotten a concussion.
As of press time, Perez hadn’t heard anything of her current condition, and did not know whether or not she would miss any games.
Despite the loss, Perez was not upset by the outcome.
“We played hard for the most part, but I think what cost us the game was the mental part,” said Perez. “If we make that mistake with a bad team, nothing happens. But they’re a good team.”
Ventura now has a record of 5-1-0, having just beat Long Beach City College, 9-0, two weeks before. Long Beach has won more state titles than any other school in California, according to Perez.
“This is one of the best, if not the best, teams we’re going to play all year until the playoffs. They have a hard time getting games because no one wants to play them,” said Perez.
“I think we’re going to be fine. We’ll come through.”
Pierce, 4-1-0, will face conference rival Moorpark College on Sept. 25 at home at 4 p.m.
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Marisa Graska, Pierce College goalie, gets comforted by her team mates after hitting her head on the goal post when trying to save a goal against Ventura College Friday Sept. 18, 2009 in Ventura, Calif. After being examined by the medics, she continued to play the rest of the half. (Justine Graves / Roundup)