Pirate Soccer Opens With Tough 1-0 Loss

On a warm, humid, late summer night, the Pirate soccer team ushered in the fall sports season with a 1-0 loss to City College of San Francisco in the Nike Soccer Community College Classic Thursday night at the VC Sportsplex.  The Rams, ranked No. 19 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason poll scored in the 55th minute of the match to defeat No. 17 Ventura (0-1).

Ventura is a freshman-dominated team and it showed during many parts of the contest.  VC's timing and touch seemed a little off, and San Francisco appeared to be able to get a foot on many Pirate passes.

In a play indicative of the night for VC, the Pirates narrowly missed a through-ball while attacking down the right side of the field.  The Rams, intercepting the pass, countered across the field.  They connected on a similar pass that VC missed moments earlier, attacking the net and scoring the only goal of the match.

Jennifer Orozco had a solid game in the middle of the Pirate attack, narrowly missing a shot in the 47th minute as a result of an outstanding deflection by the CCSF goalie, and redirected another shot off the left post two minutes after the San Francisco score.  

Melissa Aldrete had a good game as well, seeing live action for  the first time in nearly two years following a severe knee injury a year ago.  Dezi Gonzalas also played well for Ventura, who had eight shots with six on goal in the game.

Play will continue in the Nike Soccer Community College Classic on Friday Aug. 28 on VC's West Field, with play concluding with eight games on Saturday Aug. 29.  VC will conclude the tournament facing No. 16 Sierra College at 3:00 pm on Saturday at the Sportsplex.